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, 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

Fine Art Drawings, Messenger, Nino Devdariani

Nino Devdariani

Fine Art Drawings . 25 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€3,000

Painting, Childhood, Ger Da

Ger Da

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

€547

Sculpture, Mère, Ousmane Dermé

Ousmane Dermé

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

€4,000

Photography, Anchor, Monica Denevan

Monica Denevan

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

€1,147

Painting, Couple, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

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

€450

Painting, Boy to cry, Clarisse Noël

Clarisse Noël

Painting . 24 x 26 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 10.2 x 0.8 inch

€150

Painting, Flying South, Gregg Smith

Gregg Smith

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€900

Photography, Pola Molitor, Gil Rigoulet

Gil Rigoulet

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.02 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€2,000

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Babahoum

Babahoum

Fine Art Drawings . 25 x 37.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.8 x 14.8 x 0.1 inch

€300

Painting, Our First Polo, Amy Bernays

Amy Bernays

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 1.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.6 inch

€784

Painting, Disinformation, Michael Alan

Michael Alan

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 1.5 inch

€2,370

Painting, Summer Wind, Maria Esmar

Maria Esmar

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

€950

Sculpture, Varvara, Alexander Sviyazov

Alexander Sviyazov

Sculpture . 35 x 15 x 10 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 5.9 x 3.9 inch

€8,000

Photography, eco, Yan Carpenter

eco

Yan Carpenter

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

€1,500

Painting, Nous deux, Marcos Zrihen

Marcos Zrihen

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

€90

Photography, April in Paris, Alexis Duclos

Alexis Duclos

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

€680

Print, Pulque, Tom Russell

Tom Russell

Print . 40.6 x 27.9 x 5.1 cm Print . 16 x 11 x 2 inch

€684

Painting, Kiss, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

€175

Painting, Blue Rug, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

€165

Photography, Dancing, 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, Hopper girl, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Young Ballerina, Julia Ruf

Julia Ruf

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

€460

Painting, Cafè, Jorge Luis Alio

Jorge Luis Alio

Painting . 24 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€600

Sculpture, Sur le banc, Laure Krug

Laure Krug

Sculpture . 39 x 45 x 37 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 17.7 x 14.6 inch

€2,600

Photography, Ram Dad, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

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

€4,376

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