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, Coils 3B, Matt Neuman

Matt Neuman

Print . 41 x 41 cm Print . 16.1 x 16.1 inch

€850

Painting, Campagne, Ziv Lahat

Ziv Lahat

Painting . 37 x 37 x 4.5 cm Painting . 14.6 x 14.6 x 1.8 inch

€1,500

Painting, Breakfast, Alisa Diakova

Alisa Diakova

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

€678

Painting, In vitro, Thierry Bronchart

Thierry Bronchart

Painting . 46 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Sunny Forest, Kovalenko Ivan

Kovalenko Ivan

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

€300

Sculpture, Omar, Erik Ebeling

Erik Ebeling

Sculpture . 35.5 x 23 x 21.5 cm Sculpture . 14 x 9.1 x 8.5 inch

€2,349

Painting, Untitled, Sarkis Hamalbashian

Sarkis Hamalbashian

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

€1,400

Painting, Sans Titre, Jean Rouzaud

Jean Rouzaud

Painting . 45 x 32 x 1 cm Painting . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0.4 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Pendant l'orage, Lyne Seybel

Lyne Seybel

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 23 x 5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 9.1 x 2 inch

€270

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Mansour El Habre

Mansour El Habre

Fine Art Drawings . 25 x 35 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€900

Painting, La haie, Alphée

Alphée

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

€1,100

Painting, Paysage 418, Li Dongfeng

Li Dongfeng

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

€800

Print, Vintage Port, Nobu Haihara

Nobu Haihara

Print . 43.2 x 25.4 x 5.1 cm Print . 17 x 10 x 2 inch

€1,039

Painting, In vitro, Thierry Bronchart

Thierry Bronchart

Painting . 46 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Uncontained, Santicri

Santicri

Sculpture . 30 x 18 x 2 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 7.1 x 0.8 inch

€390 €351

Sculpture, Papaya, Scott Troxel

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 30 x 31 x 6 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 12.2 x 2.4 inch

€1,500

Painting, Imbrications, Sophie Hors

Sophie Hors

Painting . 47 x 37 x 3 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14.6 x 1.2 inch

€900

Painting, The box, Ihar Sviancicki

Ihar Sviancicki

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

€2,600

Painting, Flowerskull, VL.

VL.

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

€130

Painting, Sans titre 5, Rong Su

Rong Su

Painting . 40 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€800

Print, Sans Titre, Bertrand Dorny

Bertrand Dorny

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

€350

Painting, Opale, Sabine Louriac

Sabine Louriac

Painting . 46 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€570

Painting, Après, Sandra Bédu

Sandra Bédu

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€480

Painting, Inferno, Jack The Killer

Jack The Killer

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€70 €51

Sculpture, Mission Grogu, Sylvie Cappe

Sylvie Cappe

Sculpture . 47 x 27.2 x 27.2 cm Sculpture . 18.5 x 10.7 x 10.7 inch

€680

Print, Cosmic Walk - Snoopy, Ske

Ske

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

€175

Painting, Botanical, Ketevan Kacharava

Ketevan Kacharava

Painting . 25 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 9.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Family, Ivan Afronskiy

Ivan Afronskiy

Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.9 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€1,290

Painting, Untitled, Elena Cenarro

Elena Cenarro

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

€850

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