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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Painting, Spring flowers, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€650

Painting, Love amour, Elisabeth Coudol

Elisabeth Coudol

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€550

Painting, Tondo 2, Johanna Lisa

Johanna Lisa

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€400

Painting, Wisteria, Lauren Acton

Lauren Acton

Painting . 35.6 x 35.6 x 5.1 cm Painting . 14 x 14 x 2 inch

€1,399

Sculpture, Light Tree, Emma Levine

Emma Levine

Sculpture . 45 x 45 x 5 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 17.7 x 2 inch

€2,534

Painting, Intrigue, Jonathan Pradillon

Jonathan Pradillon

Painting . 31.3 x 22.7 x 2 cm Painting . 12.3 x 8.9 x 0.8 inch

€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

Painting, Homeland, Rolanda Jongerius

Rolanda Jongerius

Painting . 30 x 21 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Leaves, Aurelio Mistruzzi

Aurelio Mistruzzi

Fine Art Drawings . 48 x 35 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.9 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€300

Sculpture, I Wish You, Ninu

Ninu

Sculpture . 26 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch

€750

Painting, Gaugalin 2, Matthieu de Malte

Matthieu de Malte

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch

€400

Painting, Orchids, Aurélie Trabaud

Aurélie Trabaud

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€190

Painting, Camouflage, Thierry Bronchart

Thierry Bronchart

Painting . 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€2,100

Painting, Sunflowers, Ivan T.

Ivan T.

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

€535

Painting, Fading Memories, Uliana Sal

Uliana Sal

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

€451

Sculpture, Eomycota, Andrew Foley

Andrew Foley

Sculpture . 33 x 20 x 10 cm Sculpture . 13 x 7.9 x 3.9 inch

€3,800

Painting, Echanted garden, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€550

Painting, Schnittblumen 02, Low Bros

Low Bros

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

€3,200

Painting, Flowery Love, Rose

Rose

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

€300

Painting, Camelia, Antonella Scolfaro

Antonella Scolfaro

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

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Blooming Pulse, Minako Asakura

Minako Asakura

Fine Art Drawings . 38 x 45.5 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15 x 17.9 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

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