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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Sculpture, Omar, Erik Ebeling

Erik Ebeling

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

€2,330

Print, Moment, Aya Takano

Aya Takano

Print . 44.1 x 37.3 x 0.1 cm Print . 17.4 x 14.7 x 0 inch

€1,500

Painting, Creu VIII, Albert Gonzalo

Albert Gonzalo

Painting . 30 x 30 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€1,450

Print, Seascape, Carlo Carrà

Carlo Carrà

Print . 25 x 35.5 x 0.2 cm Print . 9.8 x 14 x 0.1 inch

€800

Painting, Frente a ti, Laura Vaillant

Laura Vaillant

Painting . 42 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,000

Print, Okta, Roby Dwi Antono

Roby Dwi Antono

Print . 50 x 44 cm Print . 19.7 x 17.3 inch

€2,106

Painting, Surprised, La Ba Quan

La Ba Quan

Painting . 50.8 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting . 20 x 20 x 1 inch

€1,613

Photography, Revenir..., D-A Woisard

D-A Woisard

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

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Walter Ciandrini

Walter Ciandrini

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Reboot, Helen Burkova

Helen Burkova

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

€807

Painting, Bici i arbre, Carlos Diaz

Carlos Diaz

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

€1,800

Painting, Les devoirs, Marc Dailly

Marc Dailly

Painting . 40 x 39 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,800

Painting, Homeless, Pascal Vilcollet

Pascal Vilcollet

Painting . 46.5 x 33 x 3 cm Painting . 18.3 x 13 x 1.2 inch

€2,198

Photography, L'Arbre flamme, Sophie Mabille

Sophie Mabille

Photography . 30.5 x 46 x 0.1 cm Photography . 12 x 18.1 x 0 inch

€850

Painting, No.504, Raphael Durans

Raphael Durans

Painting . 46 x 35.5 x 3 cm Painting . 18.1 x 14 x 1.2 inch

€2,000

Fine Art Drawings, Up, Oak Oak

Up

Oak Oak

Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 26.7 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.8 x 10.5 x 0.5 inch

€2,240

Sculpture, Communion, Fanjol

Fanjol

Sculpture . 42 x 17 x 17 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 6.7 x 6.7 inch

€6,200

Sculpture, Thistle, Zdenek Tomanek

Zdenek Tomanek

Sculpture . 19 x 27 x 22 cm Sculpture . 7.5 x 10.6 x 8.7 inch

€1,300

Painting, 7542, Renato Spagnoli

Renato Spagnoli

Painting . 35 x 35 x 0.2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€960

Painting, Seaward, Susan C

Susan C

Painting . 44.5 x 44.5 x 3 cm Painting . 17.5 x 17.5 x 1.2 inch

€1,005

Painting, Nageur, Michel Lablais

Michel Lablais

Painting . 42 x 32 x 6 cm Painting . 16.5 x 12.6 x 2.4 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Equilibre, Valérie Hadida

Valérie Hadida

Sculpture . 40 x 15 x 15 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch

€6,800

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Romain Duris

Romain Duris

Fine Art Drawings . 29.6 x 20.4 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8 inch

€2,000

Photography, Aire glacière, Marie VDB

Marie VDB

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€800

Photography, Iceland Poppy, Mark Arbeit

Mark Arbeit

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

€1,971

Painting, Lux, Aurélie Salvaing

Lux

Aurélie Salvaing

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

€1,100

Painting, Companion, Gina Werfel

Gina Werfel

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12 inch

€1,023

Fine Art Drawings, Brain Power 8, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€200

Painting, Untitled 24, Enrique Samama

Enrique Samama

Painting . 27 x 35 x 2.5 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 x 1 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, À Table, Loreto Verrocchia

Loreto Verrocchia

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

€550

Painting, Soldier, Hrair Gharib

Hrair Gharib

Painting . 35.5 x 45.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 14 x 17.9 x 0 inch

€599

Fine Art Drawings, Scène de corrida, Yves Brayer

Yves Brayer

Fine Art Drawings . 23 x 32 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.1 x 12.6 x 0.4 inch

€1,300

Painting, Grey Moons, Robert Musser

Robert Musser

Painting . 35.6 x 27.9 x 2.5 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 1 inch

€282

Fine Art Drawings, Frédérica, Luigi Corbellini

Luigi Corbellini

Fine Art Drawings . 38 x 29 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€911

Fine Art Drawings, Quiet Time, Damilola Ilori

Damilola Ilori

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9 x 1 inch

€941

Sculpture, Untiteled M11, Adelina Virga

Adelina Virga

Sculpture . 40 x 10 x 9.4 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 3.9 x 3.7 inch

€1,550

Sculpture, Dubitatif, Valem

Valem

Sculpture . 50 x 37 x 32 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 14.6 x 12.6 inch

€12,500

Photography, Surreal Cemetery, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

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

€4,301

Fine Art Drawings, Montagne creuse, 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

Painting, Doux espoir, Sabino Puma

Sabino Puma

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

€1,200

Print, Boat, Peter Martensen

Peter Martensen

Print . 32 x 47.5 cm Print . 12.6 x 18.7 inch

€387

Print, Visage, Pierre Alechinsky

Pierre Alechinsky

Print . 45 x 32 x 0.2 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€990

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