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…

Read more
Painting, Big bird, Eric Tournaire

Eric Tournaire

Painting . 24 x 31.8 x 0.2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 12.5 x 0.1 inch

€480

Photography, Chuck Vamp, Samsofy

Samsofy

Photography . 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€75

Fine Art Drawings, Tigered, Nino Eliashvili

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, Lady, Tetiana Chubukova

Tetiana Chubukova

Painting . 40 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€448

Fine Art Drawings, Tyto Alba, Johnathan Ball

Johnathan Ball

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 22.9 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 9 inch

€4,663

Fine Art Drawings, Ova, Tomo Sakurai

Ova

Tomo Sakurai

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Hill and Hoop, Nino Eliashvili

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 27 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 10.6 x 0 inch

€400

Photography, Fairground, Clotilde.MJ

Clotilde.MJ

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€590

Photography, Épreuve K, Zakari Babel

Zakari Babel

Photography . 24 x 36 x 0.5 cm Photography . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch

€60

Photography, Room 15, Clotilde.MJ

Clotilde.MJ

Photography . 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€380

Photography, Leather reveries, Clotilde.MJ

Clotilde.MJ

Photography . 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€390

Photography, Épreuve I, Zakari Babel

Zakari Babel

Photography . 36 x 24 x 0.5 cm Photography . 14.2 x 9.4 x 0.2 inch

€60

Photography, Joyeux Noel, Nathalie Roux

Nathalie Roux

Photography . 36 x 24 x 0.2 cm Photography . 14.2 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

€60

Photography, Gonflette, Nathalie Roux

Nathalie Roux

Photography . 24 x 36 x 0.2 cm Photography . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch

€60

Fine Art Drawings, Annunciation, Józef Szajna

Józef Szajna

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 27 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 10.6 inch

€1,800

Sculpture, Ariana, Christian Tell

Christian Tell

Sculpture . 40 x 30 x 13 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.1 inch

€2,650

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Józef Szajna

Józef Szajna

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 27 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 10.6 inch

€1,900

Print, Le Mort, André Masson

André Masson

Print . 30.8 x 40 x 0.2 cm Print . 12.1 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€490

Print, Le Mort, André Masson

André Masson

Print . 30.8 x 40 x 0.2 cm Print . 12.1 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€490

Fine Art Drawings, Those who feel, Rossella Mercedes

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€440

Fine Art Drawings, Skirmisher, Rossella Mercedes

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€440

Fine Art Drawings, Spirit, Rossella Mercedes

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings . 23 x 30.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.1 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€300

Print, Danse I, Bruno Roudil

Bruno Roudil

Print . 32 x 24 x 2 cm Print . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€360

Fine Art Drawings, Non titré, Jack Hironimus

Jack Hironimus

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 41 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 16.1 inch

€260

Painting, La lyre, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

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

€119 €114

Painting, The Guardian, Helen Spoon

Helen Spoon

Painting . 35 x 25 x 0.5 cm Painting . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0.2 inch

€404

Painting, N°2, Masayoshi Hanawa

Masayoshi Hanawa

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

€750

Painting, Sunset, Daniil Litvinov

Daniil Litvinov

Painting . 41 x 29 x 1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch

€275

Painting, Terra IV, Ludovic Isidore

Ludovic Isidore

Painting . 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€800

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

Painting, Tannen, Osse Müller

Osse Müller

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

€8,500

Sculpture, Surpris Par la Nuit, Wabé

Wabé

Sculpture . 44 x 23 x 21 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 9.1 x 8.3 inch

€3,900

Painting, Paty Paty, Miyuki Takanashi

Miyuki Takanashi

Painting . 33.4 x 24.3 x 3 cm Painting . 13.1 x 9.6 x 1.2 inch

€450

12/18