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, Jeune lion, Sylvie Ajacques

Sylvie Ajacques

Painting . 50 x 50 x 5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€2,300

Painting, Untitled 81, Issa Halloum

Issa Halloum

Painting . 35 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,794

Painting, Philosophie, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,800

Painting, Origami, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,440

Painting, L'Oeuf, Edouard Arthur

Edouard Arthur

Painting . 23.5 x 30.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 9.3 x 12 x 0.2 inch

€1,137

Painting, El Mar, Leonardo Nierman

Leonardo Nierman

Painting . 12.7 x 32.4 cm Painting . 5 x 12.75 inch

€2,243

Painting, The Holy Grail, Olha Kizub

Olha Kizub

Painting . 45 x 45 x 1.5 cm Painting . 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.6 inch

€718

Painting, Morning Guard, Itay Magen

Itay Magen

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1 inch

€888

Painting, Sunset, Janusz Szpyt

Janusz Szpyt

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

€1,100

Painting, Bright Day, Roman Naiden

Roman Naiden

Painting . 35 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,346

Painting, Sans-titre, Yang Liming

Yang Liming

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

€5,500

Painting, Ballerine, Roger Worms

Roger Worms

Painting . 33 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Part of the sea, Olga Afanasiadi

Olga Afanasiadi

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

€404

Painting, Jazz Night, Thierry Miramon

Thierry Miramon

Painting . 33 x 24 x 0.25 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

€840

Painting, Duo, Alain Géneau

Duo

Alain Géneau

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

€2,900

Painting, Yellow laces, Ihar Sviancicki

Ihar Sviancicki

Painting . 35 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,400

Painting, Haitian Girls, Romane Jereme

Romane Jereme

Painting . 41 x 30.5 x 1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12 x 0.4 inch

€1,800

Painting, L'arbre, Aline Pouget

Aline Pouget

Painting . 38 x 46 x 1 cm Painting . 15 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch

€1,100

Painting, Aurélia, David Kandelaki

David Kandelaki

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

€299 €270

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, The niche, Aphisit Sidsunthia

Aphisit Sidsunthia

Painting . 41 x 31 x 4 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.2 x 1.6 inch

€1,280 €1,152

Painting, Paysage breton, René Roche

René Roche

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

€1,800

Painting, Sans titre III, Loïc Brun

Loïc Brun

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

€1,000

Painting, Magranes, Josep Brugalla

Josep Brugalla

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

€489

Painting, Color Study, Noboru Yamashita

Noboru Yamashita

Painting . 30.5 x 25.4 x 2.5 cm Painting . 12 x 10 x 1 inch

€4,037

Painting, Grow Up, Angelo Pioppo

Angelo Pioppo

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

€900 €450

Sculpture, Ohne Titel, Gerd Kanz

Gerd Kanz

Sculpture . 29 x 25 x 4 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 9.8 x 1.6 inch

€1,100

Painting, Hydrangea 2, Khrystyna Kozyuk

Khrystyna Kozyuk

Painting . 40 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€2,160

4/100