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, Le retour I, Kaige Yang

Kaige Yang

Painting . 30 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,600 €1,440

Painting, Paysage 609, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Photography, Super Siesta, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€160

Painting, Chandra, Tamar Sulakvelidze

Tamar Sulakvelidze

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

€8,000

Print, India, Harry Gruyaert

Harry Gruyaert

Print . 28 x 36 cm Print . 11 x 14.2 inch

€700

Sculpture, Noa's dress 2, Pere Sala

Pere Sala

Sculpture . 43 x 38 x 12 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 15 x 4.7 inch

€2,050

Photography, Control, Ali Buhamad

Ali Buhamad

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

€456

Sculpture, Balade, Ousmane Dermé

Ousmane Dermé

Sculpture . 43 x 38 x 16 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 15 x 6.3 inch

€4,500

Painting, Insiemi 1, Dores Sacquegna

Dores Sacquegna

Painting . 21 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Procession, Rina Mamani

Rina Mamani

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

€580

Painting, Superman, David Walker

David Walker

Painting . 39 x 39 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.4 x 15.4 x 0.1 inch

€1,449

Photography, Formaggi, Nilgun Sezgin

Nilgun Sezgin

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€240

Painting, Hombre Monte, Eduardo Candil

Eduardo Candil

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

€600

Photography, Poolside Ladies, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 31 x 41 cm Photography . 12.2 x 16.1 inch

€2,050

Sculpture, Sacra bestias, Jen-chih Yu

Jen-chih Yu

Sculpture . 27.5 x 27.5 x 4.5 cm Sculpture . 10.8 x 10.8 x 1.8 inch

€1,200

Photography, Le panier, Claude Vesco

Claude Vesco

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

€450

Painting, Basel, Albert Alís

Albert Alís

Painting . 24 x 33 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13 inch

€375

Painting, Only Forward, Olga Tsyhypko

Olga Tsyhypko

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1.8 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

€430

Photography, #4, Julien Espiaut

#4

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, For You!, Lee Yu Min

Lee Yu Min

Painting . 32 x 42 x 4 cm Painting . 12.6 x 16.5 x 1.6 inch

€380

Painting, Snow walk, Marta Lafuente

Marta Lafuente

Painting . 30 x 23 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€650

Painting, Seul, Calat

Calat

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

€625

Photography, Busy Street, 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, Night, Waleria Matelska

Waleria Matelska

Painting . 30 x 23 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.1 inch

€250

Painting, Deux sœurs, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

Painting . 34.5 x 34.5 x 2 cm Painting . 13.6 x 13.6 x 0.8 inch

€499 €475

Photography, Haiti Holiday, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

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

€3,125

Photography, State Line, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 30 x 30 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€3,125

Photography, Capri Holiday, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

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

€3,125

Fine Art Drawings, Petite fille, Mariette Lydis

Mariette Lydis

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 25 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.8 inch

€500

Painting, La couronne, Marta Grassi

Marta Grassi

Painting . 27 x 21 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.8 inch

€440

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