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
Print, Lory, James Jean

James Jean

Print . 35.6 x 28 x 0.2 cm Print . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€2,000

Print, Flora, Irena Aizen

Irena Aizen

Print . 50 x 48 x 2.5 cm Print . 19.7 x 18.9 x 1 inch

€1,160

Print, Hope Of Deliverance, tizlu

tizlu

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

€350 €298

Photography, Low water, Cristina Fontsare

Cristina Fontsare

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

€1,200

Print, Barack Obama, Marie Serruya

Marie Serruya

Print . 29.7 x 21 x 0.3 cm Print . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Print, Van Halen, Lynn Goldsmith

Lynn Goldsmith

Print . 40.6 x 45.7 cm Print . 16 x 18 inch

€3,204

Print, Fusion, Natalia Naumova

Natalia Naumova

Print . 50 x 40 x 1.7 cm Print . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

€366

Print, Nine Squares, Yaacov Agam

Yaacov Agam

Print . 35.6 x 35.6 cm Print . 14 x 14 inch

€3,194

Photography, Aftermath, Fiona Tan

Fiona Tan

Photography . 32.5 x 47.5 x 0.1 cm Photography . 12.8 x 18.7 x 0 inch

€3,000

Print, Cactus, Joanna Gebal

Joanna Gebal

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

€170

Print, India, Harry Gruyaert

Harry Gruyaert

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

€750

Photography, Love Lake, Téber

Téber

Photography . 50 x 50 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€450

Photography, Aire glacière, Marie VDB

Marie VDB

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€800

Print, Cherry Kate, Batik

Batik

Print . 50 x 50 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€1,200

Print, Pensieri, Lucio Monaco

Lucio Monaco

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

€169

Print, Hands On, Albert Oehlen

Albert Oehlen

Print . 34 x 50 cm Print . 13.4 x 19.7 inch

€590

Photography, HK Flora (1), Camille Levert

Camille Levert

Photography . 47 x 47 x 3 cm Photography . 18.5 x 18.5 x 1.2 inch

€5,500

Photography, Spaceship, Inna Inna

Inna Inna

Photography . 39 x 48 cm Photography . 15.4 x 18.9 inch

€190

Print, Bio mimétisme, Maye

Maye

Print . 45 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€450

Photography, Eux deux, Bogdan Kotewicz

Bogdan Kotewicz

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Photography, Walk on Rivoli (M), Streety

Streety

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€350

Photography, Eternal sleeping, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,400

Photography, Couple Embrace, Tony Potts

Tony Potts

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography . 20 x 16 inch

€1,734

Photography, Kintsugi IV, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

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

€1,000

Photography, Green Room, Vivien Raynal

Vivien Raynal

Photography . 20 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€350

Photography, Vase 7, Feng Wang

Feng Wang

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

€1,200

Print, 221215, Wang Guangle

Wang Guangle

Print . 49 x 38 x 2 cm Print . 19.3 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€7,500

Print, Moda italiana, Lucio Monaco

Lucio Monaco

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

€169

Print, Submission, Nigel Howlett

Nigel Howlett

Print . 46.99 x 41.6 x 1 cm Print . 18.5 x 16.4 x 0.4 inch

€4,119

Photography, Two sisters, Cristina Fontsare

Cristina Fontsare

Photography . 30 x 38 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15 x 0 inch

€1,200