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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Print, Lovers, Olga Rakova

Olga Rakova

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Pathos, Dominique Dève

Dominique Dève

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€270

Fine Art Drawings, Figure, Mino Maccari

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings . 25 x 27.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.8 x 10.8 x 0.1 inch

€580

Painting, Gladiator, Gegham Hunanyan

Gegham Hunanyan

Painting . 50 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€314

Sculpture, Homme et Femme, Kat Zhivetin

Kat Zhivetin

Sculpture . 10 x 26 x 5.5 cm Sculpture . 3.9 x 10.2 x 2.2 inch

€449

Fine Art Drawings, Les joueurs, Valérie Abadie

Valérie Abadie

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€1,400

Photography, Voodoo, Léa Bon

Léa Bon

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€1,794

Print, Le spectateur, Gen Paul

Gen Paul

Print . 36.6 x 27.8 x 0.1 cm Print . 14.4 x 10.9 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Head-9, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

Painting . 38.1 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15 x 12 x 1 inch

€2,691

Painting, Head-7, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

Painting . 38.1 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15 x 12 x 1 inch

€2,691

Painting, Portrait, Guy Ghazanchyan

Guy Ghazanchyan

Painting . 29 x 21 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.4 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€500

Painting, Peter, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

Painting . 31 x 25 x 2 cm Painting . 12.2 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

€285

Painting, A Family, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

Painting . 26.5 x 12.5 x 2 cm Painting . 10.4 x 4.9 x 0.8 inch

€300

Painting, Usurer, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

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

€410

Painting, Suitor, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

Painting . 31.5 x 21.5 x 2 cm Painting . 12.4 x 8.5 x 0.8 inch

€275

Painting, Warrior, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

Painting . 27.5 x 21.5 x 2 cm Painting . 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.8 inch

€265

Painting, Prayer, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

Painting . 32 x 21 x 2 cm Painting . 12.6 x 8.3 x 0.8 inch

€275

Fine Art Drawings, Character, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€220

Fine Art Drawings, Jungle men, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

€220

Fine Art Drawings, The Associate, Dominique Dève

Dominique Dève

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€270

Fine Art Drawings, 2 points de vus, Léa Dedieu

Léa Dedieu

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.18 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€190

Print, Georges Lukacz, Gen Paul

Gen Paul

Print . 36.6 x 27.8 x 0.1 cm Print . 14.4 x 10.9 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Nick, Mr Melody

Mr Melody

Painting . 30.5 x 32 x 1.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12.6 x 0.6 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Combat, Dominique Dève

Dominique Dève

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 24 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

€260

Painting, Warrior, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

Painting . 33.5 x 11 x 2 cm Painting . 13.2 x 4.3 x 0.8 inch

€310

Print, Untitled 36-5, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Print . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Print . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€89

Painting, Moonage Day Dream, Mr Melody

Mr Melody

Painting . 30.5 x 32 x 1.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12.6 x 0.6 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Decisive, Margarita Zipman

Margarita Zipman

Fine Art Drawings . 48 x 36 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.9 x 14.2 x 0 inch

€449

Painting, Dreaming, Vitaly Duhnevich

Vitaly Duhnevich

Painting . 47 x 31 x 2 cm Painting . 18.5 x 12.2 x 0.8 inch

€305

Painting, Tchaikovsky, Thong Le

Thong Le

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 2 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.8 inch

€762

Painting, Blue King, Liubou Sas

Liubou Sas

Painting . 30 x 25 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch

€400

Painting, Signals, Anthony Dunphy

Anthony Dunphy

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

€750

Painting, Surf Summer, Anthony Dunphy

Anthony Dunphy

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

€750

Fine Art Drawings, Character, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€220

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait Rose # 2, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Fine Art Drawings . 41 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.1 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Life on mars II, Mr Melody

Mr Melody

Painting . 30.5 x 32 x 1.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12.6 x 0.6 inch

€400

Painting, Baba, Evaristo Callo

Evaristo Callo

Painting . 37 x 24.2 cm Painting . 14.6 x 9.5 inch

€720

Photography, Etirements, Michel Verna

Michel Verna

Photography . 30 x 45 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 inch

€390

Photography, By my side, Giacomo Pirozzi

Giacomo Pirozzi

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

€450

Painting, 5 pm, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.2 inch

€619

Fine Art Drawings, N555, Maria Vanishvili

Maria Vanishvili

Fine Art Drawings . 41 x 29.9 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.1 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€360

Painting, Bowie X, Mr Melody

Mr Melody

Painting . 30.5 x 32 x 1.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12.6 x 0.6 inch

€400

Painting, Portrait, Guy Ghazanchyan

Guy Ghazanchyan

Painting . 31 x 20 x 0.5 cm Painting . 12.2 x 7.9 x 0.2 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, L'ouvrier 1862, Innocenti

Innocenti

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 18 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

€477

Painting, Leftover man 3, Bill Stone

Bill Stone

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

€493

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