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, Obey, Jérôme Mesnager

Jérôme Mesnager

Painting . 42 x 32 x 1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 12.6 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Life and death, Shank Arte

Shank Arte

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

€450

Print, Blue Lovers, Milan Sanka

Milan Sanka

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

€250

Painting, Dans les yeux, Shank Arte

Shank Arte

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

€420

Print, Pillow, Milan Sanka

Milan Sanka

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

€250

Sculpture, Vénus Séquentielle, Arman

Arman

Sculpture . 29.5 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture . 11.6 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch

€3,000 €2,700

Print, El pintor, Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso

Print . 34 x 48 cm Print . 13.4 x 18.9 inch

€490 €441

Sculpture, Le drap, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 40 x 30 x 10 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9 inch

€4,500

Sculpture, Ingrávida, Miguel Guía

Miguel Guía

Sculpture . 40 x 22 x 48 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 8.7 x 18.9 inch

€2,680

Sculpture, Pin-Up, Richard Orlinski

Richard Orlinski

Sculpture . 50 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€6,000

Sculpture, Rhea, Nando Kallweit

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 32 x 7 x 12.5 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 2.8 x 4.9 inch

€1,600

Sculpture, Lying Woman, Juan Ripolles

Juan Ripolles

Sculpture . 31 x 12 x 6 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 4.7 x 2.4 inch

€1,800

Sculpture, Hathor, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 34 x 46 x 21 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 18.1 x 8.3 inch

€5,500

Print, Cymbeline, Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali

Print . 45 x 31.5 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.4 inch

€1,000

Print, Le Radeau, C215

C215

Print . 40 x 50 x 0.01 cm Print . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€650

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Roland Topor

Roland Topor

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 21.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 8.5 x 0 inch

€3,000

Print, Miss Moune, Robert Combas

Robert Combas

Print . 46 x 35 x 1 cm Print . 18.1 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€2,000

Print, Campbell's Soup, Mel Ramos

Mel Ramos

Print . 30 x 22.5 x 0.01 cm Print . 11.8 x 8.9 x 0 inch

€1,800

Sculpture, Elisa, Alain Mandon

Alain Mandon

Sculpture . 33 x 20 x 10 cm Sculpture . 13 x 7.9 x 3.9 inch

€900

Sculpture, La petite vigie, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 28 x 9 x 5.5 cm Sculpture . 11 x 3.5 x 2.2 inch

€1,800

Painting, Etude de nus, Diaz

Diaz

Painting . 29.5 x 36.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.6 x 14.4 x 0.2 inch

€1,234

Sculpture, Cadurque 5, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 47.5 x 12 x 13 cm Sculpture . 18.7 x 4.7 x 5.1 inch

€3,500

Sculpture, La rêveuse, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 27 x 12 x 16.5 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 4.7 x 6.5 inch

€3,500

Painting, Untitled, Alisa Gorelova

Alisa Gorelova

Painting . 50 x 20 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 1.2 inch

€910

Sculpture, La noblesse, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 27 x 17 x 8 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 6.7 x 3.1 inch

€2,800

Print, Nude Blue, Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse

Print . 43 x 33 cm Print . 16.9 x 13 inch

€439 €396

Sculpture, L'agneau, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 30 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch

€3,200

Sculpture, Gaea, Nando Kallweit

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 30 x 11 x 11 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 4.3 x 4.3 inch

€1,750

Painting, Cocon, Isabelle Lebret

Isabelle Lebret

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

€1,200

Painting, Primary Nude, Elena Mashkova

Elena Mashkova

Painting . 40 x 41.3 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 16.3 x 0 inch

€1,641

Sculpture, Le sommier, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 22 x 44 x 37 cm Sculpture . 8.7 x 17.3 x 14.6 inch

€5,500

Fine Art Drawings, Ascension, Anaïs Charras

Anaïs Charras

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€900

Sculpture, Espoir, Patricia Coenraets

Patricia Coenraets

Sculpture . 45 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€4,200

Print, Grotesque, Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali

Print . 38 x 28.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 15 x 11.2 x 0 inch

€1,000

Sculpture, Le funambule, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 41.5 x 46 x 16 cm Sculpture . 16.3 x 18.1 x 6.3 inch

€4,500

Sculpture, La clé de Fa, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture . 39 x 22 x 22 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 8.7 x 8.7 inch

€5,000

Photography, Sasha in The Bad, Richard Kern

Richard Kern

Photography . 43.18 x 27.94 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17 x 11 x 0 inch

€1,500

Sculpture, P10, Paul Bosland

P10

Paul Bosland

Sculpture . 26 x 10 x 9 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 3.9 x 3.5 inch

€2,150

Print, Le Torse, Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali

Print . 38 x 28 x 0.1 cm Print . 15 x 11 x 0 inch

€3,000

Painting, Female Nude, Manlio Sarra

Manlio Sarra

Painting . 24 x 29.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.6 x 0.2 inch

€1,300

Print, Mysterious girl, Death NYC

Death NYC

Print . 45 x 32 x 0.2 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€149