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, White spring, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Photography, Pivoine, Dimitri Roubichou

Dimitri Roubichou

Photography . 30 x 30 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€400

Sculpture, Mashroom, Erekle Tsuladze

Erekle Tsuladze

Sculpture . 15 x 30 x 15 cm Sculpture . 5.9 x 11.8 x 5.9 inch

€3,000

Painting, Tondo II, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

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

€3,000

Painting, Tondo I, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

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

€3,000

Painting, 6th sence, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Painting, Schnittblumen 03, Low Bros

Low Bros

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€3,200

Sculpture, Inclusion de fleurs, Arman

Arman

Sculpture . 41 x 30 x 10 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 11.8 x 3.9 inch

€8,900

Painting, Cascade, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

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

€600

Painting, Summer blow, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, N°9 - Untitled, Aditi Lago

Aditi Lago

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

€500

Painting, Printemps, Claude Carretta

Claude Carretta

Painting . 46 x 46 x 1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Rest, Aleksandra Kalisz

Aleksandra Kalisz

Fine Art Drawings . 19 x 28 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.5 x 11 x 0 inch

€370

Fine Art Drawings, Mallow, Kateryna Ocheredko

Kateryna Ocheredko

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€181

Painting, La plume, Âme Sauvage

Âme Sauvage

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2.4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.9 inch

€300

Painting, Holland tulips, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Painting, Kiss, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Painting, Green Roses, Micowel

Micowel

Painting . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Small Flash V, Da Gyeom Jung

Da Gyeom Jung

Painting . 33.4 x 24.2 x 1 cm Painting . 13.1 x 9.5 x 0.4 inch

€500

Painting, A flower, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.2 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Dame en fleur, Flo. M

Flo. M

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch

€200

Painting, Camélia IX, Lumi Mizutani

Lumi Mizutani

Painting . 24.2 x 27.3 x 1 cm Painting . 9.5 x 10.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,700

Sculpture, Mignarde, Mathilde Sauce

Mathilde Sauce

Sculpture . 50 x 35 x 34 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 13.8 x 13.4 inch

€2,500

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

Photography, Thurstonii, Sophie Zénon

Sophie Zénon

Photography . 28 x 20 x 1 cm Photography . 11 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€5,200

Painting, Muscaris, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€600

Painting, Bouquet, Svetlana Saprykina

Svetlana Saprykina

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

€542

Painting, Fleurs, Kaige Yang

Kaige Yang

Painting . 33 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 13 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

11/46