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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Sculpture, In Love, Adeline Weber Guibal

Adeline Weber Guibal

Sculpture . 49 x 41 x 8 cm Sculpture . 19.3 x 16.1 x 3.1 inch

€1,300 €1,170

Print, Baubo, Roland Topor

Roland Topor

Print . 47 x 38 cm Print . 18.5 x 15 inch

€950

Sculpture, Profil, Liselotte Andersen

Liselotte Andersen

Sculpture . 36 x 20 x 16 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 7.9 x 6.3 inch

€2,600

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

Painting, Nu, Jean Christophe Stauder

Nu

Jean Christophe Stauder

Painting . 38 x 46 x 3 cm Painting . 15 x 18.1 x 1.2 inch

€1,700

Painting, Cospaly, Su Yu

Su Yu

Painting . 48 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 18.9 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€1,400

Sculpture, Flottant, Pere Sala

Pere Sala

Sculpture . 25 x 41 x 18 cm Sculpture . 9.8 x 16.1 x 7.1 inch

€4,300

Painting, In a nutshell, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 31 x 23 x 1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€400

Painting, Careful, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 31 x 23 x 1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€400

Photography, Catharsis, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€2,400

Painting, A Door Open, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 31 x 23 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€400

Sculpture, Venus, Lidia Kostanek

Lidia Kostanek

Sculpture . 43 x 30 x 25 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 11.8 x 9.8 inch

€6,400

Photography, Push and Pull, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€2,500

Photography, The Alignment., Ricky Cohete

Ricky Cohete

Photography . 29.2 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Photography . 11.5 x 18 x 0.1 inch

€1,004

Sculpture, Argonauta, Amancio Gonzalez

Amancio Gonzalez

Sculpture . 46 x 48.7 x 25 cm Sculpture . 18.1 x 19.2 x 9.8 inch

€4,500

Sculpture, Carne rota, Amancio Gonzalez

Amancio Gonzalez

Sculpture . 37 x 22 x 22 cm Sculpture . 14.6 x 8.7 x 8.7 inch

€3,799

Sculpture, Danse, Sophie Mathilde Tauss

Sophie Mathilde Tauss

Sculpture . 39 x 23 x 9 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 9.1 x 3.5 inch

€2,300

Painting, En apesanteur, Shank Arte

Shank Arte

Painting . 30 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€400

Photography, Lynn in the shadow, Moena Weiss

Moena Weiss

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€475 €428

Sculpture, Mother, Mehnoush Modonpour

Mehnoush Modonpour

Sculpture . 50 x 40 x 33 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 15.7 x 13 inch

€3,800

Painting, My Universe, Raquel Adan

Raquel Adan

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

€500

Sculpture, Juego I, Jesus Curia

Jesus Curia

Sculpture . 40 x 30 x 20 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 inch

€3,900

Fine Art Drawings, Treno, Rossella Mercedes

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Puppet, Rossella Mercedes

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Skirmisher, Rossella Mercedes

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€440

Fine Art Drawings, In my web, Rossella Mercedes

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Spirit, Rossella Mercedes

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings . 23 x 30.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.1 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€300

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