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, Pop Design N°1/20, Lydi

Lydi

Painting . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€190

Sculpture, Amazonas, Javier de la Rosa

Javier de la Rosa

Sculpture . 29 x 20 x 124 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 7.9 x 48.8 inch

€6,038

Painting, Warmth, Avtandil Modebadze

Avtandil Modebadze

Painting . 45 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€900

Painting, CC Love, Michael Edery

Michael Edery

Painting . 40 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€900

Fine Art Drawings, JB-09, Jean Bellus

Jean Bellus

Fine Art Drawings . 23.5 x 28.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.3 x 11.2 x 0 inch

€350

Print, Enfance, Maude Ovize

Maude Ovize

Print . 49 x 48 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.3 x 18.9 x 0 inch

€300

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Joan Albert

Joan Albert

Fine Art Drawings . 44 x 47 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17.3 x 18.5 x 0 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, L'Automne, Aline Khieu

Aline Khieu

Fine Art Drawings . 29.8 x 41.8 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, Port, Magdalena Spasowicz

Magdalena Spasowicz

Painting . 28 x 42 cm Painting . 11 x 16.5 inch

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Running Home I, Kirill Postovit

Kirill Postovit

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€330

Fine Art Drawings, The Poem of Love, Kirill Postovit

Kirill Postovit

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€699 €469

Fine Art Drawings, Credit Limit, Nino Devdariani

Nino Devdariani

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€2,000

Painting, Mains IV, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

Painting . 40 x 40 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€3,000

Photography, Le concours, Gérard Uféras

Gérard Uféras

Photography . 40 x 50 x 5 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€1,500

Painting, Sybelstrasse, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 35.5 x 45.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 14 x 18 x 0.2 inch

€850

Print, Plush, Jef Aérosol

Jef Aérosol

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

€335

Print, Figures on beach, Alex Katz

Alex Katz

Print . 34.8 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 13.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€5,000

Print, Piper, Pietro Morando

Pietro Morando

Print . 48.5 x 34 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.1 x 13.4 x 0 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Charlatan, Nicola Simbari

Nicola Simbari

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 23 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Consultation, Mino Maccari

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings . 22 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€1,200

Painting, Couple, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€450

Print, Nou ka chapé, Milan Sanka

Milan Sanka

Print . 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Print . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€250

Photography, Healthymood, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 23.7 x 35.6 x 0.1 cm Photography . 9.3 x 14 x 0 inch

€1,999 €1,600

Painting, Spring, Daniil Litvinov

Daniil Litvinov

Painting . 39 x 49.5 x 2 cm Painting . 15.4 x 19.5 x 0.8 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Dancers, Nicola Simbari

Nicola Simbari

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 22 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.7 x 0 inch

€750

Photography, Surprise Mthfcker II, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 29.6 x 44.5 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 17.5 x 0 inch

€499 €400

Fine Art Drawings, At the Zoo, Mino Maccari

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings . 35.5 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, Night Tram, Nicola Simbari

Nicola Simbari

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 22.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.9 x 0 inch

€600

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