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, Daytona rolex, PyB

PyB

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

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Corps flottants, Pierre Touron

Pierre Touron

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

€500

Print, Tonkar-434-3, Vida

Vida

Print . 29.5 x 39.5 cm Print . 11.6 x 15.6 inch

€500

Print, Homère, Le CyKlop

Le CyKlop

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

€140

Painting, Charlot happy, PyB

PyB

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

€200

Painting, James, PyB

PyB

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

€200

Painting, Mr Eddy Mitchell, PyB

PyB

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

€200

Painting, O man replay, PyB

PyB

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

€99

Painting, Happy anarchy, PyB

PyB

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

€340

Photography, AV_Summer_013, Bernhard Lang

Bernhard Lang

Photography . 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€450

Painting, Drips, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 30.5 x 22.9 x 0 cm Painting . 12 x 9 x 0.01 inch

€271

Painting, To the Republic, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 23.5 x 28.6 x 1.9 cm Painting . 9.25 x 11.25 x 0.75 inch

€271

Painting, Pride, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 1.9 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.75 inch

€271

Painting, S.O.S, Aurel

Aurel

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

€550

Painting, Passage 3, Gris De Garance

Gris De Garance

Painting . 30 x 15 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inch

€80

Painting, Passage 2, Gris De Garance

Gris De Garance

Painting . 30 x 15 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inch

€80

Painting, Back to Basic !, Papa Mesk

Papa Mesk

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€800

Painting, Cat Multicolor, Lussy

Lussy

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

€110

Fine Art Drawings, Mariage, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

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

€249 €237

Painting, Lussy Cat Green Pink, Lussy

Lussy

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

€150

Print, Model #3, Eugenia Jaeger

Eugenia Jaeger

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

€350

Painting, Le combat, Alphée

Alphée

Painting . 35 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre 8, Barbara Christol

Barbara Christol

Fine Art Drawings . 23 x 31 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.1 x 12.2 x 1.2 inch

€650 €585

Print, Armoiries, Bruno Roudil

Bruno Roudil

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

€360

Print, Paysage 2, Bruno Roudil

Bruno Roudil

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

€360

Print, La Provence, Bruno Roudil

Bruno Roudil

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

€360

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 158, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 34 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 13.4 inch

€800

Print, Iceberg, Bruno Roudil

Bruno Roudil

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

€360

Print, Danse I, Bruno Roudil

Bruno Roudil

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

€360

Print, Sans titre 24, Joan Brossa

Joan Brossa

Print . 50 x 38 x 0.02 cm Print . 19.7 x 15 x 0 inch

€450

Print, Sans titre 23, Joan Brossa

Joan Brossa

Print . 50 x 38 x 0.02 cm Print . 19.7 x 15 x 0 inch

€450

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