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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Print, Alchimie 3, Julio Le Parc

Julio Le Parc

Print . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Print . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€1,000

Painting, 24 12 2O13, Oksana Mas

Oksana Mas

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

€2,500

Sculpture, Wild Thing, Thierry Corpet

Thierry Corpet

Sculpture . 36 x 37 x 4 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 14.6 x 1.6 inch

€800

Painting, Redstart100, Boss Arts 115

Boss Arts 115

Painting . 35 x 25 x 0.2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch

€100

Sculpture, Untitled, Pere Aragay

Pere Aragay

Sculpture . 37 x 9.5 x 12 cm Sculpture . 14.6 x 3.7 x 4.7 inch

€1,300

Print, Sun, Luigi Veronesi

Sun

Luigi Veronesi

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

€350

Painting, Blue ZZG, Anthony Emerton

Anthony Emerton

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.4 inch

€5,450

Print, Alcyone, L'Atlas

L'Atlas

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

€290

Painting, Rouages, Amélie Tilliole

Amélie Tilliole

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

€230

Fine Art Drawings, # 220, Daniel Gonçalves

Daniel Gonçalves

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€600

Sculpture, Mère et enfant, Stratos

Stratos

Sculpture . 34 x 38 x 15 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 15 x 5.9 inch

€1,700

Painting, Untitled 217, Rikke Bjørn

Rikke Bjørn

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

€600

Print, Concept #108, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

€130

Fine Art Drawings, Pop Art curves, Frank De Blok

Frank De Blok

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

€220

Print, Alchimie 2, Julio Le Parc

Julio Le Parc

Print . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Print . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€1,000

Painting, Abstract Balance, Maria Ruisi

Maria Ruisi

Painting . 49.9 x 49.9 x 3 cm Painting . 19.6 x 19.6 x 1.2 inch

€900

Sculpture, Sentido II, Aniana Heras

Aniana Heras

Sculpture . 37.8 x 18.8 x 8.9 cm Sculpture . 14.9 x 7.4 x 3.5 inch

€640

Sculpture, Untitled, Pere Aragay

Pere Aragay

Sculpture . 22 x 26 x 12 cm Sculpture . 8.7 x 10.2 x 4.7 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Geometry, Lili P

Lili P

Sculpture . 37 x 35 x 10 cm Sculpture . 14.6 x 13.8 x 3.9 inch

€1,097

Painting, 3T-20, Martin Singer

Martin Singer

Painting . 28 x 28 x 3.5 cm Painting . 11 x 11 x 1.4 inch

€420

Painting, Ellipses Roses, Elimo

Elimo

Painting . 40 x 40 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€1,060

Print, Concept #160, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

€320

Print, Now Complete 1., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 39.8 x 27.6 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.7 x 10.9 x 0 inch

€390

Print, Concept #42, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

€130

Print, Cube, Sabine Finkenauer

Sabine Finkenauer

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

€350

Painting, UP23_65, Matt Neuman

Matt Neuman

Painting . 28 x 28 x 2 cm Painting . 11 x 11 x 0.8 inch

€2,100

Sculpture, Quadrant, Patricia Volk

Patricia Volk

Sculpture . 27 x 42 x 18 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 16.5 x 7.1 inch

€3,900

Sculpture, Untitled, Pere Aragay

Pere Aragay

Sculpture . 30 x 27 x 15 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 10.6 x 5.9 inch

€1,000

Painting, CG13, Thomas Danel

Thomas Danel

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

€600

Print, Sans Titre, Ramon Alejandro

Ramon Alejandro

Print . 38 x 28.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 15 x 11.2 x 0 inch

€300

Sculpture, Egg, Scott Troxel

Egg

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 41 x 26 x 5 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 10.2 x 2 inch

€2,000

Sculpture, Halo Blue, Scott Troxel

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 50.8 x 35.6 x 5.1 cm Sculpture . 20 x 14 x 2 inch

€2,300

Sculpture, Himilaya Blue, Scott Troxel

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 30.5 x 16.5 x 5.7 cm Sculpture . 12 x 6.5 x 2.25 inch

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Arnaud GIbersztajn

Arnaud GIbersztajn

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 23 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€450

Sculpture, Duo #11, Anne Ghez

Anne Ghez

Sculpture . 42 x 38 x 5 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 15 x 2 inch

€2,500

Painting, Illusion, Muriel Charbonnier

Muriel Charbonnier

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

€1,300