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, Provencale No. 12, Pascal Plazanet

Pascal Plazanet

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€1,400

Painting, 18C7, Yang Youpeng

Yang Youpeng

Painting . 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€2,716

Photography, J'arrive chez moi, Marick

Marick

Photography . 40 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€400

Painting, Parole, Lu Ma

Lu Ma

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€2,000

Painting, Blue flowers, Felicia Trales

Felicia Trales

Painting . 49.8 x 49.8 x 2 cm Painting . 19.6 x 19.6 x 0.8 inch

€2,489

Painting, Joncs, Maria Perello

Maria Perello

Painting . 30 x 30 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€830

Painting, Spring, Yaroslav Savchyn

Yaroslav Savchyn

Painting . 30 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€350

Photography, Tripe 12, Thomas Ruff

Thomas Ruff

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

€2,250

Print, Six Mark Stones, Joe Tilson

Joe Tilson

Print . 35 x 50 x 0.2 cm Print . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€390

Painting, Horizon bleu, Eurgal

Eurgal

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Venezia, Joan Martí

Joan Martí

Painting . 36 x 44 x 1 cm Painting . 14.2 x 17.3 x 0.4 inch

€600

Print, L'orage, Hugo Caddous

Hugo Caddous

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

€90

Painting, Campagne 02, Isabelle Janier

Isabelle Janier

Painting . 24 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€475

Print, Landscape, Mario Logli

Mario Logli

Print . 33 x 23 x 0.1 cm Print . 13 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€300

Print, Huts, Pierre Boncompain

Pierre Boncompain

Print . 31 x 38.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 12.2 x 15.2 x 0 inch

€200

Painting, Sans titre, Matthieu Dorval

Matthieu Dorval

Painting . 41 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

Painting, Scenery 1, Anastasya Lyulina

Anastasya Lyulina

Painting . 40.5 x 30.5 x 1 cm Painting . 15.9 x 12 x 0.4 inch

€362

Painting, Lakeland, Andrei Belaichuk

Andrei Belaichuk

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

€800

Painting, Brume matinale, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,100

Painting, Bodega Bay, Ramya Sarvesh

Ramya Sarvesh

Painting . 30.5 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 1 inch

€520

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, Frosty stag, Yue Zeng

Yue Zeng

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

€1,104

Painting, Sabot - 1, Manuela Ferreira

Manuela Ferreira

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1 inch

€230

Painting, Sans titre, Matthieu Dorval

Matthieu Dorval

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

€1,200

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