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, Faith, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

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

€206

Painting, Anthony, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

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

€269

Painting, Stationery button, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€275

Painting, Conductor, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€275

Painting, Rose Symphony, Kamo Atoyan

Kamo Atoyan

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

€269

Print, Sans titre, Hans Hartung

Hans Hartung

Print . 42.4 x 31.7 cm Print . 16.7 x 12.5 inch

€4,800

Painting, Rose No. 6, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 40.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€233

Photography, #1, Romane Grammond

#1

Romane Grammond

Photography . 20.3 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Llauna, Raül Mateo

Raül Mateo

Painting . 27 x 22 x 5 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.7 x 2 inch

€650

Painting, Divine fleur, Christy

Christy

Painting . 45 x 31 x 1 cm Painting . 17.7 x 12.2 x 0.4 inch

€1,050

Painting, La nuit, Amor de Agua

Amor de Agua

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Josep Gibernau

Josep Gibernau

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 32 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 12.6 inch

€888

Painting, Skull of Goldorak, Tarek

Tarek

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

€350

Painting, Paysage 9, Li Dongfeng

Li Dongfeng

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

€700

Sculpture, Chat d'Arrêt, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 40.5 x 37 x 23 cm Sculpture . 15.9 x 14.6 x 9.1 inch

€5,200

Painting, Green discovery, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€500

Photography, Algas 45-IV, Paola Dávila

Paola Dávila

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

€2,241

Painting, Regard lointain, Christy

Christy

Painting . 35 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€820

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 269, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 19.7 inch

€950

Fine Art Drawings, Seated Woman, Suzie Bernardeau

Suzie Bernardeau

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 31.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 12.4 x 0 inch

€280

Painting, Orange blue sky, Dam Domido

Dam Domido

Painting . 41 x 33 x 1.5 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.6 inch

€990 €792

Painting, An Arrow, Tamar Sulakvelidze

Tamar Sulakvelidze

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

€9,000

Painting, Lost in the Fog, Ana Monnaco

Ana Monnaco

Painting . 50.8 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm Painting . 20 x 20 x 0.1 inch

€583

Painting, Free me, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€500

Painting, Old sketches, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€550

Painting, Ange ou démon, Christy

Christy

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

€990

Painting, Piccolo Geo, Alessandra Bisi

Alessandra Bisi

Painting . 24 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€190

Photography, Hutrain, CallypSö

CallypSö

Photography . 42 x 32 x 5 cm Photography . 16.5 x 12.6 x 2 inch

€160

Print, Concept #94, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

€130

Print, Concept #89, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

€130

Print, Concept #57, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

€130