Small

Recent trends in contemporary art have meant that we've grown accustomed to large scale pieces, be that huge canvases, enormous sculptures, or giant installations.

However, the miniature has always been an important part of contemporary art. Be it paintings, sculpture, or photography as well as small format drawings, the reduced dimensions of the artwork puts new constraints on the artist, forcing them to develop their techniques and artistic finesse.


Jeff Wall, an American photographer known for his large scale photographic prints on huge illuminated boxes, has said that “the scale of a piece is not about the dimensions of it, but about the internal tensions within the composition".


Believe it or not, miniature pieces have many advantages. Smaller formats allow the artists to show off a different range of talents and techniques, and sometimes even create the impression of a much higher quality piece – such as engravings or prints. Creating a miniature is a sure sign of precision and skill.

They are also more practical to exhibit than the enormous artworks: we've all got a little space on a shelf ready to welcome a miniature sculpture, photo or drawing.


Another very practical aspect of miniatures is the myriad possibilities for display: you could put together a full shelf of statuettes, or even a dedicated framing wall – which is an increasingly popular method for display, and makes for the perfect decorative addition to a living room or bedroom. It's a mixed composition made up of an array of pieces – you guessed it – all on the same wall. The diminutive size of the miniatures also makes it easier to make sure your favourite pieces are displayed in pride of place.

Even artists who are known for their monumental works are slowly getting into miniatures, like Jeff Wall in his exhibition at the Cartier Foundation.


The miniature is making a big name for itself as a growing trend across the contemporary art world; from Gaspard Mitz, who creates tiny versions of the interiors of famous art galleries in his 'Box Stories', to the photography of Samsofy, who recreates scenes from daily life with miniscule Lego 'actors'.  


Last but not least, the small scale of the pieces means that even big names come with small price tags, meaning that miniatures make excellent presents. So, go on, what are you waiting for? Browse our selection of miniature works now…

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Painting, Urbanité 2, Podkol

Podkol

Painting . 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€140

Print, Eyes toys, Florepea

Florepea

Print . 50 x 50 x 1 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€280

Painting, Urbanité 3, Podkol

Podkol

Painting . 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€140

Painting, Land of lava, Ivana Urso

Ivana Urso

Painting . 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€250

Painting, Vision, Podkol

Podkol

Painting . 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€140

Photography, Le'Auto, Jean-Claude ByandB

Jean-Claude ByandB

Photography . 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€400

Painting, Power glory, Podkol

Podkol

Painting . 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€140

Painting, Echos urbains, Podkol

Podkol

Painting . 46 x 38 x 4 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 1.6 inch

€140

Painting, Urbanité, Podkol

Podkol

Painting . 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€140

Print, Pioneer, Karl-Karol Chrobok

Karl-Karol Chrobok

Print . 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€220

Painting, Robber, Karl-Karol Chrobok

Karl-Karol Chrobok

Painting . 28.5 x 38.5 x 0.2 cm Painting . 11.2 x 15.2 x 0.1 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Tirésias 2, Samuel Perche

Samuel Perche

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.4 inch

€450

Print, Dior, Lilly

Lilly

Print . 50 x 50 x 0.2 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€120

Sculpture, Up and up, Milko Dobrev

Milko Dobrev

Sculpture . 31 x 10 x 7 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 3.9 x 2.8 inch

€1,450

Print, Elongated Muses, Okuda

Okuda

Print . 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, La source, Flavien Couche

Flavien Couche

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 0.2 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Vogue la nuit, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Burlesque, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 33 x 21 x 0.2 cm Painting . 13 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Plaque # 1, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€190

Painting, Trio, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 30 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€240

Painting, Plaque # 7, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€190

Painting, Plaque # 5, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€190

Painting, Blue Frog, Aurelie Cholley

Aurelie Cholley

Painting . 27 x 35 x 1.5 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 x 0.6 inch

€680

Photography, Climbing II, Paris, Uwe Ommer

Uwe Ommer

Photography . 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€1,704

Photography, Climbing I, Paris, Uwe Ommer

Uwe Ommer

Photography . 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€1,704

Fine Art Drawings, Daily bread, Salamandra

Salamandra

Fine Art Drawings . 33 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13 x 9.8 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, View, Stanislav Bojankov

Stanislav Bojankov

Painting . 29 x 19 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.4 x 7.5 x 0 inch

€120 €108

Fine Art Drawings, K1965, Harald Kröner

Harald Kröner

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 23 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 9.1 inch

€1,445

Fine Art Drawings, Plaque # 6, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 20 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Plaque # 4, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 20 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Plaque # 2, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 20 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€190

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