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, Shroud, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 40.6 x 23.5 x 1.9 cm Painting . 16 x 9.25 x 0.75 inch

€270

Sculpture, Voyou, JP Malot

JP Malot

Sculpture . 32 x 42 x 1.3 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 16.5 x 0.5 inch

€1,104

Painting, Inner light, Natalya Mougenot

Natalya Mougenot

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

€400

Painting, Ethnic 3, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 30 x 28 x 0.2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Ethnic 2, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

€350

Painting, Ethnic # 1, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Issues, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Fine Art Drawings . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€270

Fine Art Drawings, Face Body, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Fine Art Drawings . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€270

Painting, Portriat, Guy Ghazanchyan

Guy Ghazanchyan

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

€1,000

Print, Square 3, Lantomo

Lantomo

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

€110

Sculpture, Lord Daniel, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 29 x 24 x 11 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 9.4 x 4.3 inch

€1,500

Painting, Testa, Fernando Alday

Fernando Alday

Painting . 50 x 50 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€1,300

Painting, Monica, Sylvie Cappe

Sylvie Cappe

Painting . 29 x 29 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 11.4 x 1 inch

€180

Painting, Scoop3, Agathe Wagner

Agathe Wagner

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

€950

Painting, Portrait #02, Koba

Koba

Painting . 24 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€190

Photography, El campesino, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

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

€960

Painting, La Lyre, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

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

€549 €522

Painting, Fight For Love - Red, Asko

Asko

Painting . 42 x 30 x 0.05 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€120

Painting, Eyes, Nathalie Cubéro

Nathalie Cubéro

Painting . 31 x 31 x 0.2 cm Painting . 12.2 x 12.2 x 0.1 inch

€390

Painting, Regard profond, Christy

Christy

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

€980

Print, Hypereaction, Michael Alan

Michael Alan

Print . 30.5 x 40.6 x 0.1 cm Print . 12 x 16 x 0.03 inch

€280

Sculpture, Léviathan, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 32 x 27 x 11 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 10.6 x 4.3 inch

€1,800

Sculpture, Igbo, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 29 x 23 x 10 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 9.1 x 3.9 inch

€1,500

Sculpture, Félix, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 42 x 40 x 11 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 15.7 x 4.3 inch

€1,600

Sculpture, Crochet du droit, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 50 x 40 x 12 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 15.7 x 4.7 inch

€1,800

Sculpture, Clarkin, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 42 x 40 x 11 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 15.7 x 4.3 inch

€1,600

Photography, Autoportrait II, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 50 x 35 x 2 cm Photography . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€600

Painting, Crash, Eric Doisy

Eric Doisy

Painting . 33 x 27 x 3 cm Painting . 13 x 10.6 x 1.2 inch

€480

Painting, Cohabitation, Eric Doisy

Eric Doisy

Painting . 30 x 27 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 10.6 x 1.2 inch

€480

Painting, Lointain, Anne Bironneau

Anne Bironneau

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

€780

Painting, Mona Lis ' Art, Wawapod

Wawapod

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€500

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