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…

Read more
Painting, Cospaly, Su Yu

Su Yu

Painting . 48 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 18.9 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€1,400

Painting, Tenderness, Nikolay Rusev

Nikolay Rusev

Painting . 46 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€750

Painting, Careful, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 31 x 23 x 1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€400

Print, I.A, Enki Bilal

I.A

Enki Bilal

Print . 50 x 40 x 0.5 cm Print . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€790

Sculpture, Big Trip, Dagmar Vogt

Dagmar Vogt

Sculpture . 34 x 12 x 20 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 4.7 x 7.9 inch

€4,200

Sculpture, Affection, Dagmar Vogt

Dagmar Vogt

Sculpture . 32 x 10 x 11 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 3.9 x 4.3 inch

€3,800

Fine Art Drawings, Ensemble, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€135

Sculpture, Piggyback, Dagmar Vogt

Dagmar Vogt

Sculpture . 42 x 8 x 8 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 3.1 x 3.1 inch

€3,800

Painting, Wall Girl & ours, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 40 x 33 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 13 x 1.2 inch

€240

Photography, Hands W, Prisca Tozzi

Prisca Tozzi

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

€800

Painting, Cupids (Crete), Agapi

Agapi

Painting . 35 x 25 x 0.1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch

€290

Painting, Kiss, Agapi

Agapi

Painting . 35 x 25 x 0.1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch

€390

Painting, Jumelles, Thalia Dalecky

Thalia Dalecky

Painting . 34.5 x 28 x 0.1 cm Painting . 13.6 x 11 x 0 inch

€320

Painting, Celestial, Niki Singleton

Niki Singleton

Painting . 31 x 41 x 2 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch

€2,533

Sculpture, Nous deux, Fanjol

Fanjol

Sculpture . 29 x 16 x 10 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 6.3 x 3.9 inch

€6,400

Photography, Lovers, Prisca Tozzi

Prisca Tozzi

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

€800

Painting, Sensual woman, Verssan

Verssan

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

€350

Painting, Who are you ?, Fransoist

Fransoist

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

€470

Fine Art Drawings, L'amour fou, Maï

Maï

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Le gout de la vie, Maï

Maï

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€400

Photography, Temptation, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

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

€499

Fine Art Drawings, Love me III, Lilit Soghomonyan

Lilit Soghomonyan

Fine Art Drawings . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

€420

Print, Dark swan, Sancko

Sancko

Print . 30 x 30 cm Print . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€65

Sculpture, L'enfant de l'amour, Orvalis

Orvalis

Sculpture . 34 x 12 x 9 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 4.7 x 3.5 inch

€120

7/7