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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Painting, First button, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,440

Painting, Evolución, Fanny Arro

Fanny Arro

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€550

Painting, Arrive, Dena Haden

Dena Haden

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€500 €450

Painting, Abstract-3126, Ludoroy

Ludoroy

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

€950

Sculpture, Moon Mood, Michael Levchenko

Michael Levchenko

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

€4,377

Print, Sans titre 3, Antonio Asis

Antonio Asis

Print . 50 x 49.5 x 0.02 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.5 x 0 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Mignarde, Mathilde Sauce

Mathilde Sauce

Sculpture . 42 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€1,400

Design, Dutch Nostalgia, Johanna H

Johanna H

Design . 47 x 47 x 22 cm Design . 18.5 x 18.5 x 8.7 inch

€349

Sculpture, Mr Iris, Yevgen Prymachenko

Yevgen Prymachenko

Sculpture . 40 x 30 x 20 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 inch

€1,368

Print, Sans titre, Lionel

Lionel

Print . 29.5 x 23 cm Print . 11.6 x 9.1 inch

€220

Painting, La Pause, Nadège Dauvergne

Nadège Dauvergne

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

€1,300

Sculpture, Dolce, Deville-Chabrolle

Deville-Chabrolle

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

€9,500

Painting, Fields 9.9, Joëlle Cabanne

Joëlle Cabanne

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 2.5 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 1 inch

€800

Print, Jim, C215

Jim

C215

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

€390

Painting, Kumo 2, Janise Yntema

Janise Yntema

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

€2,055

Painting, G2401, Laura Soulier

Laura Soulier

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€800

Print, Marianne, C215

C215

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

€600

Painting, Blue Horizon, Mario Sinisca

Mario Sinisca

Painting . 38.2 x 32 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€550

Photography, In flight I, Frank Williams

Frank Williams

Photography . 30 x 30 x 0.2 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€300

Painting, Abstract-3109, Ludoroy

Ludoroy

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

€950

Print, Untitled, Joan Cots

Joan Cots

Print . 49.5 x 38 cm Print . 19.5 x 15 inch

€222

Photography, Luminescence, Martin Kallay

Martin Kallay

Photography . 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

Painting, Mainstream, Salvatore Alessi

Salvatore Alessi

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

€1,900

Photography, #4, Romane Grammond

#4

Romane Grammond

Photography . 30 x 22.5 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 8.9 x 0 inch

€150

Fine Art Drawings, The juggler, Paul Richard Mason

Paul Richard Mason

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

€3,900

Painting, Fleurs III, Claire Fournier

Claire Fournier

Painting . 49 x 49 x 1 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 0.4 inch

€450

Painting, The Pianist, Sirio Pellegrini

Sirio Pellegrini

Painting . 24.5 x 34.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.6 x 13.6 x 0 inch

€1,800

Painting, Ochre U, Anthony Emerton

Anthony Emerton

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.4 inch

€5,250

Painting, Hidden Story 24., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Painting . 41.7 x 31.8 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.4 x 12.5 x 0 inch

€310

Painting, Cotton Girl, Morgane Soulier

Morgane Soulier

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

€2,200

Photography, K 51, Sylvie Schambill

Sylvie Schambill

Photography . 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€230

Painting, Silence, Kate Aksen

Kate Aksen

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

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, The bluebird, Blu_451

Blu_451

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 25 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

€500

Print, Ajabu, Valerian Lenud

Valerian Lenud

Print . 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Print . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€250

Print, Tête 3, Hervé Di Rosa

Hervé Di Rosa

Print . 32 x 25 x 0.2 cm Print . 12.6 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Jean Luc VDH, Alain Abramatic

Alain Abramatic

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

€1,060

Painting, Landscape 137, Li Dongfeng

Li Dongfeng

Painting . 49 x 49 x 1 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 0.4 inch

€800 €720

Painting, The Red Roof, Irit Epstein

Irit Epstein

Painting . 45.7 x 35.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 18 x 14 x 1.5 inch

€1,393

Painting, Running, Marcus Aitken

Marcus Aitken

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

€846