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, Fleur 15, Viola Schiviz

Viola Schiviz

Painting . 28 x 25 x 1 cm Painting . 11 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

€500

Print, Graffaune Cerfs, Daco

Daco

Print . 37 x 27 x 2 cm Print . 14.6 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€900

Painting, Wallpaper, Lile Gasviani

Lile Gasviani

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

€800

Painting, Water, Krzysztof Lozowski

Krzysztof Lozowski

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

€400

Print, Le blacon, Edouard Manet

Edouard Manet

Print . 48 x 36 x 0.5 cm Print . 18.9 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch

€800

Painting, Still Nature, Franz Campoy

Franz Campoy

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1 inch

€2,850

Sculpture, F.230101, Toshio Iezumi

Toshio Iezumi

Sculpture . 18 x 30 x 13 cm Sculpture . 7.1 x 11.8 x 5.1 inch

€6,400

Painting, Untitled, Elisa Queralt

Elisa Queralt

Painting . 24 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€900

Painting, Ambivalence, Sophie Gouvion

Sophie Gouvion

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

€3,100

Painting, Almendros, Antonio Reverte

Antonio Reverte

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

€3,000

Sculpture, Head, Sirio Pellegrini

Sirio Pellegrini

Sculpture . 27 x 20 x 16 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 7.9 x 6.3 inch

€3,400

Painting, Calm, Nathanaëlle Dianga

Nathanaëlle Dianga

Painting . 30 x 39 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.4 x 0.4 inch

€800

Painting, Summer Meadow, Katie Brent

Katie Brent

Painting . 40 x 42 x 5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 16.5 x 2 inch

€905

Painting, Sparkle Abstract, Pamela Rys

Pamela Rys

Painting . 43.2 x 43.2 x 2 cm Painting . 17 x 17 x 0.8 inch

€1,808

Painting, Evening, Vladimir Batrakov

Vladimir Batrakov

Painting . 24 x 34 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13.4 x 0.8 inch

€405

Painting, Dusk zone, Robert Inestroza

Robert Inestroza

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

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Daydream, Nino Eliashvili

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings . 41.5 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€800

Painting, I Love New York, Ludo

Ludo

Painting . 50 x 50 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€2,000

Print, Bidea, Laura Nieto

Laura Nieto

Print . 34.2 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Print . 13.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€695

Sculpture, Inca, Les Hélènes

Les Hélènes

Sculpture . 33 x 9 x 7 cm Sculpture . 13 x 3.5 x 2.8 inch

€620

Sculpture, Flowers Power, Max ArtLouis

Max ArtLouis

Sculpture . 20 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture . 7.9 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€900

Sculpture, Lisa, Nanan

Nanan

Sculpture . 34 x 18 x 19 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 7.1 x 7.5 inch

€1,350

Painting, Untitled, Pablo Gago

Pablo Gago

Painting . 33 x 24 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

€999

Painting, Majorca, Josep Meneses

Josep Meneses

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

€800

Painting, Landscape, Sandro Fabrizi

Sandro Fabrizi

Painting . 50 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,250

Sculpture, Signature II, Hamed ENCS

Hamed ENCS

Sculpture . 25 x 40 x 2 cm Sculpture . 9.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Print, Flora, Irena Aizen

Irena Aizen

Print . 50 x 48 x 2.5 cm Print . 19.7 x 18.9 x 1 inch

€1,160

Painting, Paris, Alfred Ziethlow

Alfred Ziethlow

Painting . 48 x 36 x 0.02 cm Painting . 18.9 x 14.2 x 0 inch

€4,500

Photography, Vidéo game, Catherine Fabre

Catherine Fabre

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

€450

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