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, Etiuda, Jan Aniserowicz

Jan Aniserowicz

Painting . 41 x 31 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.2 x 0.8 inch

€550

Painting, The Pair, Abgar Khachatryan

Abgar Khachatryan

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

€268

Painting, Arthur, Benoît Tranchant

Benoît Tranchant

Painting . 40 x 29 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.4 x 0.8 inch

€700

Painting, Palmhouse, Peter de Boer

Peter de Boer

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

€600

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, Carnival, Alexander Dobrodiy

Alexander Dobrodiy

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

€900

Painting, Cadences II, Lison Favarger

Lison Favarger

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

€1,028

Painting, Galdosa, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

Painting . 22 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 8.7 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,800

Painting, A journey of wandering, BEM

BEM

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

€4,800

Painting, Magnolia, Menno Modderman

Menno Modderman

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

€680

Painting, Vue du port, Tom Davies

Tom Davies

Painting . 16 x 27 x 0.3 cm Painting . 6.3 x 10.6 x 0.1 inch

€1,040

Painting, Dark Hole, God Sylver

God Sylver

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

€1,400

Painting, In vitro, Thierry Bronchart

Thierry Bronchart

Painting . 46 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Just Breath, Maka Kvartskhava

Maka Kvartskhava

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

€1,200

Painting, The ocean calls, Paul B

Paul B

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

€992

Painting, Nederland, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

€1,466

Painting, Paisatge, Manuel Mayoral

Manuel Mayoral

Painting . 22 x 27 x 3 cm Painting . 8.7 x 10.6 x 1.2 inch

€550

Painting, Hera, Iryna Perova

Iryna Perova

Painting . 30 x 40 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€1,815

Painting, Landscape, Mario Asnago

Mario Asnago

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

€2,200

Painting, Wizard, Anna Kober

Anna Kober

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

€536

Painting, Sofoco, Carmen Cañadas

Carmen Cañadas

Painting . 41 x 22 x 3 cm Painting . 16.1 x 8.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,300

Painting, Sadness, Saba Dolikashvili

Saba Dolikashvili

Painting . 29 x 41.5 x 1 cm Painting . 11.4 x 16.3 x 0.4 inch

€1,400

Painting, Les falaise, Marko Stupar

Marko Stupar

Painting . 24 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€2,800

Painting, NYC, Michel Narbonne

NYC

Michel Narbonne

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

€325

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, 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, Luberon, Jean-Marc Guillaume

Jean-Marc Guillaume

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

€1,100

Painting, Zen, Liz Gartz

Zen

Liz Gartz

Painting . 50 x 50 x 5.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2.2 inch

€1,170

Painting, Espresso, Darren Thompson

Darren Thompson

Painting . 40.6 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Painting . 16 x 12 x 2 inch

€849

Painting, Joncs, Maria Perello

Maria Perello

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

€830

Painting, In vitro, Thierry Bronchart

Thierry Bronchart

Painting . 46 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, La Terre Promise I, Artur

Artur

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

€800

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