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, Love, Jacques Halbert

Jacques Halbert

Painting . 36 x 26 cm Painting . 14.2 x 10.2 inch

€600

Photography, Soleil plein, Juliette Royer

Juliette Royer

Photography . 31.9 x 23.9 x 0.5 cm Photography . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.2 inch

€110

Print, Le baiser II, Maude Ovize

Maude Ovize

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

€300

Painting, Solitude, Fabien Gäng

Fabien Gäng

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,555

Painting, Reflexe, BEHOA

BEHOA

Painting . 30 x 20 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 2 inch

€650

Painting, Lightpackers, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 32 x 24 x 1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€450

Painting, Figures, Giner Bueno

Giner Bueno

Painting . 17 x 28 x 3 cm Painting . 6.7 x 11 x 1.2 inch

€900

Painting, Birds, Rinalds Vanadzins

Rinalds Vanadzins

Painting . 49.8 x 39.9 x 1.8 cm Painting . 19.6 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

€902

Print, July, Martin Bigum

Martin Bigum

Print . 50 x 34.6 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.6 inch

€525

Photography, Just JAZZ, Karol Kállay

Karol Kállay

Photography . 41 x 50 cm Photography . 16.1 x 19.7 inch

€3,200

Photography, The Odd One, Ebuka Michael

Ebuka Michael

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

€805

Photography, Danseuse, Sylvie Schambill

Sylvie Schambill

Photography . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€230

Painting, Amoureux, Christian Raffin

Christian Raffin

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€690

Fine Art Drawings, La cheminée, Jean-Louis Toutain

Jean-Louis Toutain

Fine Art Drawings . 28 x 38 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 15 x 0.1 inch

€1,500

Painting, Run run run, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

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

€400

Sculpture, Famille, Ousmane Dermé

Ousmane Dermé

Sculpture . 45 x 26 x 20 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 10.2 x 7.9 inch

€4,500

Photography, Superman Parade, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

€4,376

Painting, S.t, Tonino Guerra

S.t

Tonino Guerra

Painting . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€2,700

Fine Art Drawings, La promenade, Hermann Paul

Hermann Paul

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 25 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

€480

Painting, The Trap, Edgard Mazigi

Edgard Mazigi

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

€1,300

Painting, Venise !, Noël Granger

Noël Granger

Painting . 21 x 29 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€120

Photography, Green Room, Vivien Raynal

Vivien Raynal

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

€350

Painting, Summertime, Julia Whitehead

Julia Whitehead

Painting . 35 x 45 x 4 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,389

Fine Art Drawings, Palabras, Nathalie Grenier

Nathalie Grenier

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 25 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch

€580

Painting, Pause Café, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

Painting . 36 x 36 x 2 cm Painting . 14.2 x 14.2 x 0.8 inch

€1,400

Painting, Compétition, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,100

Painting, At home, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,150 €1,093

Painting, Elle, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€899 €855

Painting, Beyond Reach, Alisa Leonets

Alisa Leonets

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€700

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