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
Fine Art Drawings, Armor, Rossella Mercedes

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€300

Fine Art Drawings, Seaborg, Zo

Zo

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€390

Fine Art Drawings, Cyclops 2, Christian Frederiksen

Christian Frederiksen

Fine Art Drawings . 36 x 29 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14.2 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, Japanese dragon, Palirina

Palirina

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

€367

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

Painting, Traversée, Patrick Delorme

Patrick Delorme

Painting . 39 x 29 x 0.01 cm Painting . 15.4 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€630

Print, Naki babaÏ, Didier Hamey

Didier Hamey

Print . 32 x 28 x 0.2 cm Print . 12.6 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€300

Print, Ijû, Didier Hamey

Didier Hamey

Print . 32 x 28 cm Print . 12.6 x 11 inch

€400

Print, Momonuî, Didier Hamey

Didier Hamey

Print . 32 x 28 cm Print . 12.6 x 11 inch

€400

Print, Moryorito, Didier Hamey

Didier Hamey

Print . 32 x 28 cm Print . 12.6 x 11 inch

€400

Print, Akki, Didier Hamey

Didier Hamey

Print . 32 x 28 cm Print . 12.6 x 11 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Truffe et caviar, Zo

Zo

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€450

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

Print, Napalm, Studio Abawé

Studio Abawé

Print . 29 x 20 cm Print . 11.4 x 7.9 inch

€40

Painting, L'Hiver, Hubert Ollivier

Hubert Ollivier

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

€300

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

Print, 5th Dimension, Cajuca

Cajuca

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

€358

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

Print, Sans titre, Marion Semple

Marion Semple

Print . 50 x 35 x 1 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€140

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, Scene de Crime, Nathalie Roux

Nathalie Roux

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

Photography, Accident, Nathalie Roux

Nathalie Roux

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

€60

Sculpture, Phénix, Mathilde Sauce

Mathilde Sauce

Sculpture . 45 x 40 x 25 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 15.7 x 9.8 inch

€1,700

Print, Cymbeline, Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali

Print . 45 x 31.5 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.4 inch

€1,000

Sculpture, Lying Woman, Juan Ripolles

Juan Ripolles

Sculpture . 31 x 12 x 6 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 4.7 x 2.4 inch

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Roland Topor

Roland Topor

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 21.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 8.5 x 0 inch

€3,000

Print, Grotesque, Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali

Print . 38 x 28.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 15 x 11.2 x 0 inch

€1,000

Sculpture, Mi-Siren, Arman

Arman

Sculpture . 25 x 26 x 17 cm Sculpture . 9.8 x 10.2 x 6.7 inch

€6,000

15/18