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, 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

Sculpture, La Tendresse, Nina Khemchyan

Nina Khemchyan

Sculpture . 40 x 40 x 40 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€7,900

Fine Art Drawings, Respirer, Fanny Gosse

Fanny Gosse

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€350

Print, Sunglasses, Bruno Roudil

Bruno Roudil

Print . 32 x 24 x 2 cm Print . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€360

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

Photography, Paysages - 7467, Yann Gaillot

Yann Gaillot

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

€480

Painting, Gestalt, Remi Delaplace

Remi Delaplace

Painting . 45 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€990

Painting, Seguela, Disek

Disek

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

€650

Painting, Sevilla, Claudia Coccina

Claudia Coccina

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

€800

Print, Art, Pieter Ceizer

Art

Pieter Ceizer

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

€145

Fine Art Drawings, Composition 2, Roland Topor

Roland Topor

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 19.7 inch

€5,000

Painting, Vanitas, Tarek

Tarek

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

€900

Print, B1, Isthme

B1

Isthme

Print . 30 x 40 x 0.4 cm Print . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€250

Painting, Spirale, Jonathan Pradillon

Jonathan Pradillon

Painting . 38 x 38 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15 x 15 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Lotus, Li Dongfeng

Li Dongfeng

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

€600

Print, Model #2, Eugenia Jaeger

Eugenia Jaeger

Print . 30 x 21 cm Print . 11.8 x 8.3 inch

€350

Painting, Tray 276 (2), Olivier Ebel

Olivier Ebel

Painting . 44 x 43 x 0.1 cm Painting . 17.3 x 16.9 x 0 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Matrice, Pierre Touron

Pierre Touron

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€800

Print, Hard Reset VII, Heng

Heng

Print . 42 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 16.5 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€100

Painting, Léon, Virginia Benedicto

Virginia Benedicto

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€920

Photography, Ana, Marie Minot

Ana

Marie Minot

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.4 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Sauvage rouage, Pierre Touron

Pierre Touron

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Tinta, Patopalomo

Patopalomo

Fine Art Drawings . 41 x 33 x 0.34 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.1 x 13 x 0.1 inch

€460

Print, Arlette, Clet Abraham

Clet Abraham

Print . 47 x 37 cm Print . 18.5 x 14.6 inch

€140

Print, Ulysse, Le CyKlop

Le CyKlop

Print . 47 x 37 cm Print . 18.5 x 14.6 inch

€140

Fine Art Drawings, Art, Pieter Ceizer

Art

Pieter Ceizer

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 29.7 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.7 inch

€540

Sculpture, Dispute, Victor Prodanchuk

Victor Prodanchuk

Sculpture . 32 x 29 x 16 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 11.4 x 6.3 inch

€2,349