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, Arch No.60, Mike Sasaki

Mike Sasaki

Sculpture . 25.5 x 35.5 x 6 cm Sculpture . 10 x 14 x 2.4 inch

€865

Sculpture, N°461, Maxime Plancque

Maxime Plancque

Sculpture . 30 x 8 x 8 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 3.1 x 3.1 inch

€970

Painting, Enso 18, Christian Deplante

Christian Deplante

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

€300

Painting, Brooklyn, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 38 x 46 x 1 cm Painting . 15 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch

€2,800

Painting, Abstract-3109, Ludoroy

Ludoroy

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

€950

Painting, Spring, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

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

€3,200

Sculpture, Pour ma Maman 16/80, Stratos

Stratos

Sculpture . 40 x 15 x 9 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 5.9 x 3.5 inch

€1,100

Painting, Equinox, Nef

Nef

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

€1,700

Sculpture, Flashe, Scott Troxel

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 29 x 25 x 5 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 9.8 x 2 inch

€1,000

Sculpture, F.200101, Toshio Iezumi

Toshio Iezumi

Sculpture . 5.5 x 30 x 23 cm Sculpture . 2.2 x 11.8 x 9.1 inch

€3,900

Painting, Detroit, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

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

€3,000

Painting, White Rhythm, Diana Torje

Diana Torje

Painting . 50 x 50 x 5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, N°462, Maxime Plancque

Maxime Plancque

Sculpture . 32 x 8 x 8 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 3.1 x 3.1 inch

€750

Painting, Kumo 9, Janise Yntema

Janise Yntema

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

€2,048

Sculpture, Wavy Yellow, Scott Troxel

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 39 x 15 x 5 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 5.9 x 2 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Opportunity No.6, Mike Sasaki

Mike Sasaki

Sculpture . 20 x 29 x 10.5 cm Sculpture . 7.9 x 11.4 x 4.1 inch

€1,050

Painting, Kumo 8, Janise Yntema

Janise Yntema

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

€2,048

Sculpture, N°456, Maxime Plancque

Maxime Plancque

Sculpture . 26 x 8 x 8 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 3.1 x 3.1 inch

€490

Painting, Emotion, Almu Jimenez

Almu Jimenez

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

€1,430

Painting, Nyam, Alexandra von Braun

Alexandra von Braun

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

€2,450

Sculpture, Piti Cha'migo, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 27 x 22 x 12.5 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 8.7 x 4.9 inch

€3,200

Painting, Kumo 6, Janise Yntema

Janise Yntema

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

€2,048

Sculpture, Geometric 01, Simone De Rosa

Simone De Rosa

Sculpture . 50 x 50 x 4 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€280

Design, Let's Go VI, Philip Hearsey

Philip Hearsey

Design . 43.5 x 27 x 12.5 cm Design . 17.1 x 10.6 x 4.9 inch

€3,018

Painting, Portal (pink ) II, Susan L

Susan L

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,807

Sculpture, N°471, Maxime Plancque

Maxime Plancque

Sculpture . 27 x 9 x 6 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 3.5 x 2.4 inch

€1,350

Sculpture, Citrus, Scott Troxel

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 33 x 22 x 5 cm Sculpture . 13 x 8.7 x 2 inch

€1,400

Painting, Rosetta, Rich Moyers

Rich Moyers

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 3.8 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 1.5 inch

€678

Painting, Kumo 5, Janise Yntema

Janise Yntema

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

€2,048

Sculpture, Page ouverte, Agnès K.

Agnès K.

Sculpture . 35 x 42 x 8 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 16.5 x 3.1 inch

€800

Photography, Strata # 202523, Paul Snell

Paul Snell

Photography . 50 x 7.5 x 11 cm Photography . 19.7 x 3 x 4.3 inch

€2,409

Sculpture, Sitting, David Chikuzeni

David Chikuzeni

Sculpture . 32 x 30 x 10 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 11.8 x 3.9 inch

€600

Photography, Jonquilles, Stéphane Spach

Stéphane Spach

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

€900

Sculpture, Forma, Thalia Dalecky

Thalia Dalecky

Sculpture . 45 x 45 x 9 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 17.7 x 3.5 inch

€3,200

Sculpture, Flow Meter, Scott Troxel

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 36 x 25 x 5 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 9.8 x 2 inch

€1,800

Print, Full People Color, Wait

Wait

Print . 20 x 30 x 1 cm Print . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€220

Painting, L'instant, Sandrine Hirson

Sandrine Hirson

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

€500

Painting, Noir pur, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

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

€3,700