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, Fusion, Merljn

Merljn

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Henriette, Dominique Pourchet

Dominique Pourchet

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€180

Painting, Ecriture, Estée

Estée

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.01 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Charles, Dominique Pourchet

Dominique Pourchet

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 10.2 x 0 inch

€135

Fine Art Drawings, Medusa, Orphné Achéron

Orphné Achéron

Fine Art Drawings . 28.5 x 30.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.2 x 12 inch

€800

Painting, L04PG3, Giovanni Corrêa

Giovanni Corrêa

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€500,000

Fine Art Drawings, Textura (Framed), Rodrigo Spinel

Rodrigo Spinel

Fine Art Drawings . 25 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€449

Fine Art Drawings, Tyto Alba, Johnathan Ball

Johnathan Ball

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 22.9 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 9 inch

€4,664

Fine Art Drawings, Rabbit 02, Eulogia Merle

Eulogia Merle

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, The Mouse, Makiko Sugawa

Makiko Sugawa

Fine Art Drawings . 33.5 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.2 x 9.4 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, Coffee Pot Aqualung, Hal Mayforth

Hal Mayforth

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 9 x 0.1 inch

€135

Fine Art Drawings, Reflets sur la Loire, Paul Natter

Paul Natter

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Infini, Merljn

Merljn

Painting . 41 x 31 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.2 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, Infini, Merljn

Merljn

Painting . 41 x 31 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.2 x 0 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Francisco, Valérie Abadie

Valérie Abadie

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 20 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€2,500

Fine Art Drawings, Sunoco Tilt-A-Whirl, Hal Mayforth

Hal Mayforth

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 9 x 0.1 inch

€269

Fine Art Drawings, Fair Game Fatty, Hal Mayforth

Hal Mayforth

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 9 x 0.1 inch

€269

Fine Art Drawings, Yarn Theory, Hal Mayforth

Hal Mayforth

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 21.6 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 8.5 x 0.1 inch

€269

Fine Art Drawings, Hepcat, Hal Mayforth

Hal Mayforth

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 21.6 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 8.5 x 0.1 inch

€269

Fine Art Drawings, Vaudeville Forklift, Hal Mayforth

Hal Mayforth

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 21 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 8.25 x 0.1 inch

€269

Fine Art Drawings, Bean Pot Head, Hal Mayforth

Hal Mayforth

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 9 x 0.1 inch

€269

Painting, îles, Estée

Estée

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.01 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Banderillero II, Wai Ming Lung

Wai Ming Lung

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 32.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 12.8 x 0 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, MTDR8, Wai Ming Lung

Wai Ming Lung

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 32.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 12.8 x 0 inch

€600

Painting, IN152020, Giovanni Corrêa

Giovanni Corrêa

Painting . 21 x 29 x 1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch

€120,000

Painting, Cercle Zen, Sounya Whang

Sounya Whang

Painting . 45 x 27 x 0.1 cm Painting . 17.7 x 10.6 x 0 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Grenoble, Paul de Chatelperron

Paul de Chatelperron

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 36 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 14.2 x 0 inch

€360

Fine Art Drawings, Chamonix, Paul de Chatelperron

Paul de Chatelperron

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 14.2 inch

€360

Fine Art Drawings, Kama Soutra, Georges Pichard

Georges Pichard

Fine Art Drawings . 41 x 31 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.1 x 12.2 inch

€3,400

Fine Art Drawings, Proto Shunga, Ashley Wood

Ashley Wood

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

€2,800

Fine Art Drawings, Temple, Carles Gomila

Carles Gomila

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 inch

€800

Painting, Chats, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Sans-titre, Jean Gourmelin

Jean Gourmelin

Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 32.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.4 x 12.8 x 0.1 inch

€850

Painting, La vie à 2, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€450

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