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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Photography, Lunar, Thierry Despeghel

Thierry Despeghel

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€790

Painting, Honfleur, Mike Hall

Mike Hall

Painting . 30 x 35 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€959

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

Fine Art Drawings, La plume, Zahra Zeinali

Zahra Zeinali

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 inch

€1,900

Fine Art Drawings, 16 fév. 88, Bernard Noël

Bernard Noël

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€600

Photography, facieS, Louis Blanc

Louis Blanc

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

€1,500

Sculpture, The Labyrinth, Lieven D'Haese

Lieven D'Haese

Sculpture . 42 x 37 x 38 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 14.6 x 15 inch

€8,500

Photography, Leonard Cohen, John Rowlands

John Rowlands

Photography . 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography . 16 x 20 x 2 inch

€1,219

Photography, La tristeza, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

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

€718 €647

Fine Art Drawings, La rosace, Georges Laporte

Georges Laporte

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 9.4 inch

€200

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

Painting, Brume, Calat

Calat

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

€625

Painting, Earth space IV, Jen

Jen

Painting . 50 x 50 x 5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€2,956

Photography, Jacquelina, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

Photography . 40 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,350 €1,148

Photography, Speck, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

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

€2,400

Painting, Urge, Tomo Sakurai

Tomo Sakurai

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

€1,400

Sculpture, Bouquetin, Julien Cuny

Julien Cuny

Sculpture . 40 x 30 x 25 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 11.8 x 9.8 inch

€850

Sculpture, Belle d'antan, Bernard Pras

Bernard Pras

Sculpture . 47 x 39 x 18 cm Sculpture . 18.5 x 15.4 x 7.1 inch

€14,000

Photography, Le panier, Claude Vesco

Claude Vesco

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

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Vendangeurs, Camille Hilaire

Camille Hilaire

Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.4 x 11.8 inch

€450

Painting, Plage 7, Polina Egorushkina

Polina Egorushkina

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.05 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€650

Painting, Paule, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting . 29.7 x 21 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 inch

€148

Photography, 135 Méga-Jul #7, Samzaï

Samzaï

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.5 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.2 inch

€165

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

Photography, Change, Michaela Haider

Michaela Haider

Photography . 49.8 x 49.8 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.6 x 19.6 x 0.1 inch

€903

Photography, April in Paris, Alexis Duclos

Alexis Duclos

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

€680

Photography, Vibration, Andres Romero

Andres Romero

Photography . 30 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€450

Photography, Time Out, John Migicovsky

John Migicovsky

Photography . 40.6 x 50.8 x 1.3 cm Photography . 16 x 20 x 0.5 inch

€1,038

Photography, Superman Parade, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

€4,333

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Gerard Sala

Gerard Sala

Fine Art Drawings . 45 x 32.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17.7 x 12.8 inch

€1,300

Photography, Super Siesta, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

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

€160

Photography, Injustice, Rodolfo Franchi

Rodolfo Franchi

Photography . 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€560

Print, Tea party, Olga Rakova

Olga Rakova

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

€350

Photography, Goodnight II, Amrita Bilimoria

Amrita Bilimoria

Photography . 45.7 x 45.7 x 0.5 cm Photography . 18 x 18 x 0.2 inch

€1,399

Painting, Okey, Raül Mateo

Raül Mateo

Painting . 30 x 20 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 2 inch

€650

Painting, Composition 119, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Composition 118, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage 607, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Printemps 11, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Village du Sud, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Disengaged, David Walker

David Walker

Painting . 39 x 39 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.4 x 15.4 x 0.1 inch

€1,448

Painting, Disinformation, Michael Alan

Michael Alan

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 1.5 inch

€2,347

Painting, Serie Gris, Antonio Vargas

Antonio Vargas

Painting . 31 x 44 cm Painting . 12.2 x 17.3 inch

€500

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