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, Sans titre, Arkane

Arkane

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

€1,100

Painting, Untitled, Sarkis Hamalbashian

Sarkis Hamalbashian

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

€1,400

Painting, Ray of Sunshine, Wietzie

Wietzie

Painting . 40 x 40 x 5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 2 inch

€1,440

Painting, Mud Bug, David Sipko

David Sipko

Painting . 31.2 x 36.3 x 2.5 cm Painting . 12.3 x 14.3 x 1 inch

€314

Painting, Lobster, Tamar Sulakvelidze

Tamar Sulakvelidze

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

€2,000

Painting, September, Alexander Levich

Alexander Levich

Painting . 50 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€980

Painting, Cherries, Zhang Wei Guang

Zhang Wei Guang

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

€6,500

Painting, Untitled, Elene Melikidze

Elene Melikidze

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

€950

Painting, Untitled, Fatima El Hajj

Fatima El Hajj

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

€5,000

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

Sculpture, Sphère, Pascal Courcelles

Pascal Courcelles

Sculpture . 45 x 45 x 45 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 17.7 x 17.7 inch

€15,000

Painting, Medicine, Miiickey Madu

Miiickey Madu

Painting . 42 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€4,000

Painting, Sans titre 6, Loïc Brun

Loïc Brun

Painting . 46 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, La haie, Alphée

Alphée

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

€1,100

Painting, Dragon Boat, Jia Yuan Hua

Jia Yuan Hua

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

€5,600

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

Painting, Untitled, Ilia Balavadze

Ilia Balavadze

Painting . 50 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€700

Painting, Pick me up, Nina Fedotova

Nina Fedotova

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

€400

Painting, Portrait, Guy Ghazanchyan

Guy Ghazanchyan

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

€800 €720

Painting, Red roses, Stephen Haws

Stephen Haws

Painting . 45.7 x 35.6 x 2 cm Painting . 18 x 14 x 0.8 inch

€583

Painting, D'artagnan, AKET

AKET

Painting . 41 x 33 x 4 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 1.6 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

Painting, Rose - 966, Aykaz Arzumanyan

Aykaz Arzumanyan

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

€860

Painting, The box, Ihar Sviancicki

Ihar Sviancicki

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

€2,600

Painting, Beachhouse, Peter de Boer

Peter de Boer

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

€1,380

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, Landes 1, AE2

AE2

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

€300 €285

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