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, L'envie, Leonor Fini

Leonor Fini

Print . 41 x 33 x 0.01 cm Print . 16.1 x 13 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Spring portal, Lark Pilinsky

Lark Pilinsky

Painting . 40 x 50 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,500

Print, Fille au ballon, Brain Roy

Brain Roy

Print . 28 x 50 x 1 cm Print . 11 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€495

Painting, Untitled 21311, Martin Reyna

Martin Reyna

Painting . 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€1,626

Painting, Echanted garden, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€550

Painting, Static 416, Sia Aryai

Sia Aryai

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.5 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.2 inch

€913

Painting, Division, Gegham Hunanyan

Gegham Hunanyan

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

€316

Painting, Oxford, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 24 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€2,800

Painting, RTU178013, Yigit Yazici

Yigit Yazici

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€1,265

Painting, Vers l'arrivée, Kalus

Kalus

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

€250

Painting, A2515, Thierry Benzaid

Thierry Benzaid

Painting . 25 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 9.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€250

Painting, Tres, Mónica Castanys

Mónica Castanys

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

€1,700

Painting, Forest Magic, Emily Mae

Emily Mae

Painting . 30 x 25 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch

€590

Print, Why So Serious, AKET

AKET

Print . 33 x 48.3 x 0.3 cm Print . 13 x 19 x 0.1 inch

€290

Print, Mick, Gaby Joséphine

Gaby Joséphine

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

€70

Painting, Visage bleu, Marie Vandooren

Marie Vandooren

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

€690

Photography, Osmose, Catherine Fabre

Catherine Fabre

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€450

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, Mushrooms, Koa

Koa

Painting . 24 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€270 €189

Painting, Forest, Petra Schott

Petra Schott

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

€2,300

Painting, I love you, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

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

€50

Photography, 09022021-13052024, Songlin Ji

Songlin Ji

Photography . 20 x 30 x 0.4 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€900

Sculpture, Delicate, Adi Michael

Adi Michael

Sculpture . 50 x 22 x 16 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 8.7 x 6.3 inch

€4,969

Painting, Quinces, Irina Trushkova

Irina Trushkova

Painting . 34 x 39 x 2 cm Painting . 13.4 x 15.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Loco, AC 5

AC 5

Sculpture . 15.5 x 26 x 9 cm Sculpture . 6.1 x 10.2 x 3.5 inch

€120

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