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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Photography, Retrouvailles, Mark Leech

Mark Leech

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

€930

Painting, Paule, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

€148

Painting, On the Beach, Marcos Zrihen

Marcos Zrihen

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Séraphin, Dominique Pourchet

Dominique Pourchet

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€195

Painting, Tres, Mónica Castanys

Mónica Castanys

Painting . 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,700

Painting, Untitled, Teona Yamanidze

Teona Yamanidze

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

€2,800

Painting, Waiting, Ivan T.

Ivan T.

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€649

Fine Art Drawings, JB-08, Jean Bellus

Jean Bellus

Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Circus II, Zakhar Shevchuk

Zakhar Shevchuk

Painting . 47 x 37 x 2 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14.6 x 0.8 inch

€990

Photography, Dog Wash, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

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

€4,376

Fine Art Drawings, Seven, Nino Devdariani

Nino Devdariani

Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.4 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€3,000

Sculpture, Mission to Mars, Astroman

Astroman

Sculpture . 42 x 23 x 20 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 9.1 x 7.9 inch

€8,000

Photography, Consecration, Justine Darmon

Justine Darmon

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

€750

Painting, Elans, Clothilde Lasserre

Clothilde Lasserre

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

€800

Painting, Fun & Joy, Dorit Levi

Dorit Levi

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

€4,740

Print, Woman, Léon Lang

Léon Lang

Print . 35 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print . 13.8 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

€300

Photography, Companyes, Martí Sala

Martí Sala

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

€700

Painting, Quiet happiness, Irina Bast

Irina Bast

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€629

Painting, Massaï, Marcos Zrihen

Marcos Zrihen

Painting . 10 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 3.9 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€90

Painting, Ski & Mode N°3/20, Lydi

Lydi

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

€190

Sculpture, Danseurs, Ousmane Dermé

Ousmane Dermé

Sculpture . 43.2 x 15.2 x 14 cm Sculpture . 17 x 6 x 5.5 inch

€4,767

Print, Pool Party, Maxine Gregson

Maxine Gregson

Print . 29.7 x 21 x 0.05 cm Print . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€280

Painting, So Paris, Odile Pinto-Corbin

Odile Pinto-Corbin

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

€850

Photography, Jacquelina, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

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

€1,350

Photography, Basketball, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

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

€4,376

Photography, Hobie Red Cat, Bonnie Lammar

Bonnie Lammar

Photography . 30.5 x 30.5 x 0.5 cm Photography . 12 x 12 x 0.2 inch

€570

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