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, Leo, Nando Kallweit

Leo

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 31 x 6 x 10 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 2.4 x 3.9 inch

€1,100

Sculpture, Leni, Nando Kallweit

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 30 x 6 x 10 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 2.4 x 3.9 inch

€1,100

Sculpture, Pavarti Canada, Philippe Buil

Philippe Buil

Sculpture . 27 x 22 x 12 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 8.7 x 4.7 inch

€950

Sculpture, 87, Jérôme Mesnager

87

Jérôme Mesnager

Sculpture . 26.5 x 22.5 x 11.5 cm Sculpture . 10.4 x 8.9 x 4.5 inch

€800

Sculpture, Amour singulier, Raâk

Raâk

Sculpture . 38 x 19 x 14 cm Sculpture . 15 x 7.5 x 5.5 inch

€2,500

Print, Ready S, Joël Moens

Joël Moens

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

€2,030

Sculpture, Particolare, Elias Naman

Elias Naman

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

€12,000

Sculpture, Gloria II, Nando Kallweit

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 26 x 19 x 7 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 7.5 x 2.8 inch

€2,709

Sculpture, Selfie, 4/8, Pere Sala

Pere Sala

Sculpture . 36 x 12 x 10 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 4.7 x 3.9 inch

€1,950

Painting, La femme rose, Jia shen

Jia shen

Painting . 22 x 28.8 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.7 x 11.3 x 0 inch

€379

Sculpture, P6, Paul Bosland

P6

Paul Bosland

Sculpture . 32 x 9 x 13 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 3.5 x 5.1 inch

€2,150

Sculpture, Kelya, Angélina Maia

Angélina Maia

Sculpture . 39 x 40 x 24 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 15.7 x 9.4 inch

€2,900

Painting, Nu de dos, Alain Bonnefoit

Alain Bonnefoit

Painting . 32.8 x 22 cm Painting . 12.9 x 8.7 inch

€450

Painting, Adam, MorningCamille

MorningCamille

Painting . 50 x 50 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

€500

Sculpture, En chemin, Raâk

Raâk

Sculpture . 38 x 15 x 1 cm Sculpture . 15 x 5.9 x 0.4 inch

€2,500

Sculpture, Rêve de femme, Raâk

Raâk

Sculpture . 38 x 15 x 13 cm Sculpture . 15 x 5.9 x 5.1 inch

€2,500

Sculpture, Danseuse, Ousmane Dermé

Ousmane Dermé

Sculpture . 49 x 23 x 12 cm Sculpture . 19.3 x 9.1 x 4.7 inch

€3,650

Painting, White Rose, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€500

Painting, Orange Rose, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€500

Photography, Hands B, Prisca Tozzi

Prisca Tozzi

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, With my dog (1), Valeria Popova

Valeria Popova

Fine Art Drawings . 38 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€350

Sculpture, Artemis, Nando Kallweit

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 31 x 4 x 4 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 1.6 x 1.6 inch

€692

Sculpture, Le chant de la terre, Raâk

Raâk

Sculpture . 35 x 11 x 14 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 4.3 x 5.5 inch

€2,500

Painting, Kids, Ilia Balavadze

Ilia Balavadze

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

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Guardian, Kane Mclay

Kane Mclay

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 42 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 16.5 x 0.4 inch

€590

Sculpture, Sadness, Dusan Mocko

Dusan Mocko

Sculpture . 12 x 34 x 14 cm Sculpture . 4.7 x 13.4 x 5.5 inch

€6,800

Sculpture, Torso, Sabine Gleser

Sabine Gleser

Sculpture . 38 x 14 x 14 cm Sculpture . 15 x 5.5 x 5.5 inch

€500

Painting, Ready Again, Seromo Okoro

Seromo Okoro

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 1 inch

€449

Sculpture, Adulation, Alain Mandon

Alain Mandon

Sculpture . 36 x 20 x 8 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 7.9 x 3.1 inch

€980

Painting, Venus, Liubou Sas

Liubou Sas

Painting . 35 x 25 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Contorsion bleue, Changzheng Zhu

Changzheng Zhu

Fine Art Drawings . 38 x 38 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15 x 15 x 0 inch

€120

Painting, Tachycardie, Claudia Coccina

Claudia Coccina

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

€1,700

Sculpture, Wind, Hakob Vardanyan

Hakob Vardanyan

Sculpture . 37 x 15 x 29 cm Sculpture . 14.6 x 5.9 x 11.4 inch

€3,700

Sculpture, Un matin, Catherine de Kerhor

Catherine de Kerhor

Sculpture . 42 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch

€2,500

Painting, Anatomy Lesson, Mino Maccari

Mino Maccari

Painting . 33.5 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting . 13.2 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€800

Sculpture, La Sphinge, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 44 x 21 x 21 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 8.3 x 8.3 inch

€6,000

Sculpture, La Pyramide, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 50 x 29 x 12.5 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 11.4 x 4.9 inch

€6,000

Photography, Nu Caravelle, Guy Thouvignon

Guy Thouvignon

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

€640

Painting, Nude (Diana), Maria Iciak

Maria Iciak

Painting . 32 x 25 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.8 inch

€270

Sculpture, L'éveil, Brigitte Dravet

Brigitte Dravet

Sculpture . 45 x 23 x 15 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 9.1 x 5.9 inch

€2,200

Sculpture, L'envol, Brigitte Dravet

Brigitte Dravet

Sculpture . 40 x 35 x 15 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 13.8 x 5.9 inch

€1,900

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