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, Fraicheur, Veroe

Veroe

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

€180

Painting, Juicy Trio, Gevorg Sinanyan

Gevorg Sinanyan

Painting . 24 x 31 x 0.8 cm Painting . 9.4 x 12.2 x 0.3 inch

€330

Fine Art Drawings, Hamburger !, Noël Granger

Noël Granger

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€110

Painting, Easter, Oksana Ivanyuk

Oksana Ivanyuk

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€270

Painting, Red viburnum, Oksana Ivanyuk

Oksana Ivanyuk

Painting . 35 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€270

Painting, Salty, Klimenko Olena

Klimenko Olena

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€350

Painting, Tomatoes, Klimenko Olena

Klimenko Olena

Painting . 35 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€325

Painting, Juicy, Anthony Dunphy

Anthony Dunphy

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.3 inch

€757

Painting, Harvest, Anthony Dunphy

Anthony Dunphy

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

€757

Painting, Plums, Nadezda Stupina

Nadezda Stupina

Painting . 35 x 37 x 1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 14.6 x 0.4 inch

€360

Painting, Three, Anyck Alvarez Kerloch

Anyck Alvarez Kerloch

Painting . 40.6 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€380

Painting, Easter days, Oksana Ivanyuk

Oksana Ivanyuk

Painting . 25 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€225

Painting, Pomegranates, Vlas Ayvazyan

Vlas Ayvazyan

Painting . 24 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€220 €176

Painting, Autunno, Lorena Fonsato

Lorena Fonsato

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

€170

Painting, Watermelon, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Painting . 30 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€450

Photography, F1 France, Samsofy

Samsofy

Photography . 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€75

Painting, Rice dinner, Le Hai Linh

Le Hai Linh

Painting . 37 x 49 x 1 cm Painting . 14.6 x 19.3 x 0.4 inch

€495

Print, Glaces, Pamelito

Pamelito

Print . 50 x 40 x 0.05 cm Print . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€130

Photography, Deliveries, Fabrizio Alzati

Fabrizio Alzati

Photography . 20 x 27 cm Photography . 7.9 x 10.6 inch

€350

Photography, Yakitori, Fabrizio Alzati

Fabrizio Alzati

Photography . 20 x 27 cm Photography . 7.9 x 10.6 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, West End Martini, Daniel Clarke

Daniel Clarke

Fine Art Drawings . 45.7 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€237

Photography, Plat de lentilles, Marick

Marick

Photography . 19 x 27 x 1 cm Photography . 7.5 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch

€350

Photography, Juste mûre, Regis Duvignau

Regis Duvignau

Photography . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€420

Painting, Acte 1 7h45, Nathalie Gravey

Nathalie Gravey

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

€150

Painting, 3 citrons, Joseph Rethlin

Joseph Rethlin

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

€220

Painting, Strawberry, Zhize Lv

Zhize Lv

Painting . 34.5 x 34.5 cm Painting . 13.6 x 13.6 inch

€137

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