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, Unknown Cities, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting . 50 x 40 x 1.6 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

€327

Sculpture, Cornus, Pascal Billard

Pascal Billard

Sculpture . 35 x 11 x 16 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 4.3 x 6.3 inch

€790

Photography, Diptych, Javier Molina

Javier Molina

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

€458

Sculpture, Libre et Forte, Wabé

Wabé

Sculpture . 48 x 27 x 17 cm Sculpture . 18.9 x 10.6 x 6.7 inch

€3,200

Sculpture, Sirène, Wabé

Wabé

Sculpture . 48 x 31 x 22 cm Sculpture . 18.9 x 12.2 x 8.7 inch

€2,900

Painting, Untitled #4, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting . 21 x 29 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€89

Print, Untitled, Hrair Gharib

Hrair Gharib

Print . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€130

Print, Cancer, Bernard Louédin

Bernard Louédin

Print . 28 x 20 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€160

Print, Our our, Didier Hamey

Didier Hamey

Print . 32 x 29 x 0.2 cm Print . 12.6 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Inspiration, Mino Maccari

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings . 33 x 22 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

€480

Sculpture, Ave V, Rocio Mazuecos

Rocio Mazuecos

Sculpture . 27 x 33 x 14 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 13 x 5.5 inch

€725

Sculpture, Birth, Victor Prodanchuk

Victor Prodanchuk

Sculpture . 40 x 39 x 27 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 15.4 x 10.6 inch

€5,382

Sculpture, Woodman, Victor Prodanchuk

Victor Prodanchuk

Sculpture . 21 x 35 x 16 cm Sculpture . 8.3 x 13.8 x 6.3 inch

€4,036

Sculpture, Dream tree, Victor Prodanchuk

Victor Prodanchuk

Sculpture . 29 x 20 x 19 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 7.9 x 7.5 inch

€4,485

Sculpture, Ave IV, Rocio Mazuecos

Rocio Mazuecos

Sculpture . 26 x 20 x 23 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 7.9 x 9.1 inch

€725

Print, Jnoum, Didier Hamey

Didier Hamey

Print . 27 x 30 x 0.2 cm Print . 10.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 261, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 252, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 251, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 inch

€700

Sculpture, Ave III, Rocio Mazuecos

Rocio Mazuecos

Sculpture . 26 x 36 x 12 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 14.2 x 4.7 inch

€725

Painting, Babylon, Anatoly Varvarov

Anatoly Varvarov

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

€605

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 66, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 33 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.4 x 13 x 0 inch

€100

Painting, African Doe, Eric Tournaire

Eric Tournaire

Painting . 24 x 32 x 0.2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€480

Painting, Angel, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

Painting . 42 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€315

Painting, Aeneas, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

Painting . 31 x 44 x 2 cm Painting . 12.2 x 17.3 x 0.8 inch

€410

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