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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Fine Art Drawings, Snow, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€2,400

Painting, Vers verd, David Casals

David Casals

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

€1,050

Painting, In the Wood, Sirio Pellegrini

Sirio Pellegrini

Painting . 49 x 41.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.3 x 16.3 x 0.2 inch

€2,400

Painting, Paysage breton, René Roche

René Roche

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

€1,800

Painting, Hydrangea 2, Khrystyna Kozyuk

Khrystyna Kozyuk

Painting . 40 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€2,160

Sculpture, Entrelazar 5, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

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

€903

Painting, Lueurs flottantes, Denis Miau

Denis Miau

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

€1,200

Painting, Eden VI (Etude), Maude Ovize

Maude Ovize

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

€1,000

Print, L'atelier, Guy Bardone

Guy Bardone

Print . 50 x 36 cm Print . 19.7 x 14.2 inch

€200

Print, Seascape, Carlo Carrà

Carlo Carrà

Print . 25 x 35.5 x 0.2 cm Print . 9.8 x 14 x 0.1 inch

€800

Painting, Landscape, Martine Elhaik

Martine Elhaik

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

€200

Painting, Landscape 3, Lika Sarishvili

Lika Sarishvili

Painting . 33 x 33 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13 x 13 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Solitude, Alfredo Vannotti

Alfredo Vannotti

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

€962

Painting, Paisaje 33, Antoni Tapies

Antoni Tapies

Painting . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€22,000

Print, Bidea, Laura Nieto

Laura Nieto

Print . 34.2 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Print . 13.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€695

Painting, Cyclades, Kerfily

Kerfily

Painting . 33 x 41 x 2.5 cm Painting . 13 x 16.1 x 1 inch

€450

Painting, Nouvelle pousse, Mathilde A.

Mathilde A.

Painting . 30 x 20 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€340

Sculpture, La douzième graine, Herrel

Herrel

Sculpture . 27 x 16 x 15 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 6.3 x 5.9 inch

€3,700

Painting, Cedar Oak, Emma Levine

Emma Levine

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€1,807

Painting, Almendros, Antonio Reverte

Antonio Reverte

Painting . 33 x 41 x 2 cm Painting . 13 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch

€3,000

Painting, Chemin des bois, F. Perloux

F. Perloux

Painting . 25 x 33.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.2 x 0.2 inch

€1,019

Painting, Boat, Avtandil Modebadze

Avtandil Modebadze

Painting . 35 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€900

Painting, Untitled, Mansour El Habre

Mansour El Habre

Painting . 41 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16.1 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€1,000

Print, Reflection I, Alex Katz

Alex Katz

Print . 47 x 34.3 x 0.01 cm Print . 18.5 x 13.5 x 0 inch

€7,000

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