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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Photography, Grande rue, Bogdan Kotewicz

Bogdan Kotewicz

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€820

Photography, Soleil plein, Juliette Royer

Juliette Royer

Photography . 31.9 x 23.9 x 0.5 cm Photography . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.2 inch

€110

Photography, Speck, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

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

€2,400

Photography, DeliRiUs, Louis Blanc

Louis Blanc

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

€1,400

Photography, Hêtre, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.5 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 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, Making a mark, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

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

€2,400

Photography, ContemplatlO, Louis Blanc

Louis Blanc

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

€1,000

Photography, Karaoke, Camille Levert

Camille Levert

Photography . 50 x 50 x 7 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2.8 inch

€5,500

Photography, Endless life, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

€1,400

Print, Art, Pieter Ceizer

Art

Pieter Ceizer

Print . 30 x 30 cm Print . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€145

Photography, Arcoíris, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 32.3 x 43.1 x 0.1 cm Photography . 12.7 x 17 x 0 inch

€1,999

Photography, Abus, Jean-Guy Nakars

Jean-Guy Nakars

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

€800

Print, Je t'aime, Shadee K

Shadee K

Print . 33 x 48.3 x 0.3 cm Print . 13 x 19 x 0.1 inch

€150

Print, Cherry Kate, Batik

Batik

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

€1,200

Photography, Magnolia, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

Photography . 40 x 39 x 0.5 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.4 x 0.2 inch

€1,000

Photography, Consecration, Justine Darmon

Justine Darmon

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

€750

Photography, facieS, Louis Blanc

Louis Blanc

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

€1,500

Print, Pom Pom, Philippe Geluck

Philippe Geluck

Print . 35 x 35 x 0.01 cm Print . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€120

Photography, Eclipse, Leandro Franco

Leandro Franco

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

€800

Photography, Un bout de mer, Sarah Dutel

Sarah Dutel

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

€160

Photography, Horizon, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 26.7 x 35.6 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.5 x 14 x 0 inch

€1,250

Print, Minnie, Dodo

Dodo

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

€120

Photography, April in Paris, Alexis Duclos

Alexis Duclos

Photography . 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€680

Photography, Eclat de Grenade, Paul Wagner

Paul Wagner

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

€300

Photography, El guia, Rocio Villanueva

Rocio Villanueva

Photography . 40.64 x 40.64 cm Photography . 16 x 16 inch

€1,150

Photography, Moonshine, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

€1,000

Photography, Street 1, Nicholas Winter

Nicholas Winter

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

€980

Print, India, Harry Gruyaert

Harry Gruyaert

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

€700

Photography, Top guns, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 43.9 x 32.9 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.3 x 13 x 0 inch

€1,799

Photography, Elsewhere, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

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

€2,400

Photography, Formaggi, Nilgun Sezgin

Nilgun Sezgin

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€240

Photography, I am awake, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

€1,500