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, The Dance, Alex Hodge

Alex Hodge

Sculpture . 40.6 x 10.2 x 15.2 cm Sculpture . 16 x 4 x 6 inch

€1,310

Photography, Bum Chain, Tony Potts

Tony Potts

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

€1,717

Fine Art Drawings, Weightless, Marina Lukianova

Marina Lukianova

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€813

Sculpture, Izanami, Juliette Clovis

Juliette Clovis

Sculpture . 34 x 34 x 27 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 13.4 x 10.6 inch

€6,850

Painting, Free breath, Elvira Venko

Elvira Venko

Painting . 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€452

Painting, Summer Day, Alexander Levich

Alexander Levich

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

€980

Photography, Untitled #3, Josef Nadj

Josef Nadj

Photography . 25 x 30 cm Photography . 9.8 x 11.8 inch

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Man lying down, Anthony Roaland

Anthony Roaland

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 41 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€380

Painting, Embrace, Ella Jensen

Ella Jensen

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

€307

Fine Art Drawings, La Main, Fanny Gosse

Fanny Gosse

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Abyss, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

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

€253

Painting, Awe, Elizabeth Becker

Awe

Elizabeth Becker

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

€208

Painting, Without, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

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

€208

Painting, Relax, Carmen Cañadas

Carmen Cañadas

Painting . 39 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.4 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,700

Photography, Iman, Thierry Le Gouès

Thierry Le Gouès

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

€4,200

Photography, El patrimonio, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

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

€717 €646

Sculpture, Pieta, Alex Hodge

Alex Hodge

Sculpture . 34.3 x 15.2 x 14 cm Sculpture . 13.5 x 6 x 5.5 inch

€1,536

Painting, Mutine, Marcos Rodrigo

Marcos Rodrigo

Painting . 40 x 40 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€490

Painting, Natacha, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Non titré, Jack Hironimus

Jack Hironimus

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 41 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 16.1 inch

€260

Sculpture, Olympia, Alex Hodge

Alex Hodge

Sculpture . 38.1 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm Sculpture . 15 x 5 x 5 inch

€1,536

Painting, Light, Oleksandr Khrapachov

Oleksandr Khrapachov

Painting . 45 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€723

Sculpture, Aigua III, Teresa Riba

Teresa Riba

Sculpture . 34 x 33 x 14 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 13 x 5.5 inch

€3,800

Fine Art Drawings, Derrière, Aline Khieu

Aline Khieu

Fine Art Drawings . 29.8 x 41.8 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€540

Photography, Headstand, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

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

€4,337

Painting, Salvia 352, Nagsoul

Nagsoul

Painting . 25 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€600

Painting, France Gall, PyB

PyB

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

€270

Painting, Mercè, Ana Patitú

Ana Patitú

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1.7 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.7 inch

€650

Painting, Contagious, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 36.8 x 20.6 x 4.4 cm Painting . 14.5 x 8.125 x 1.75 inch

€271

Painting, Dust I, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 0 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.01 inch

€271

Painting, Control I, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 0 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.01 inch

€271

Painting, Vénus au loup, Logovarda

Logovarda

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

€1,800

Painting, Plaque # 3, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€190

Painting, Scoop3, Agathe Wagner

Agathe Wagner

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

€950

Sculpture, Félix, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 42 x 40 x 11 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 15.7 x 4.3 inch

€1,600

Sculpture, Crochet du droit, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 50 x 40 x 12 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 15.7 x 4.7 inch

€1,800

Sculpture, Clarkin, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 42 x 40 x 11 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 15.7 x 4.3 inch

€1,600

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