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, Vortex, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

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

€250

Painting, Red Rose 2, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

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

€198

Painting, The Bride, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

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

€400

Photography, #6, Julien Espiaut

#6

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€350

Photography, Saint Laurent, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€240

Fine Art Drawings, Snow clad fir, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.5 x 0 inch

€2,800

Sculpture, Echoes of Joy, Lanre Studio

Lanre Studio

Sculpture . 47 x 30.5 x 4 cm Sculpture . 18.5 x 12 x 1.6 inch

€660

Sculpture, Razinne, Fabrice Lettron

Fabrice Lettron

Sculpture . 50 x 50 x 20 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 19.7 x 7.9 inch

€500

Painting, Matous, Laurent Messager

Laurent Messager

Painting . 30 x 20 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 1.2 inch

€340

Painting, Winter path, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€150

Fine Art Drawings, Porto Pollo_14, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€460

Painting, Ethnic # 1, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 40 x 31 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 12.2 x 0 inch

€380

Painting, Justine, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 50 x 32.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 12.8 x 0 inch

€400

Painting, Dead tree, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

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

€5,100

Sculpture, Tour Eiffel, Spaco

Spaco

Sculpture . 34 x 17 x 17 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 6.7 x 6.7 inch

€240

Painting, Séance, Natia Sapanadze

Natia Sapanadze

Painting . 26 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting . 10.2 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€800

Sculpture, Vase Samanta, Isabelle Braud

Isabelle Braud

Sculpture . 42 x 19 x 19 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 7.5 x 7.5 inch

€500

Photography, Chemin blanc, Adrianna MJW

Adrianna MJW

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€400

Painting, Floating, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

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

€400

Photography, #1, Nicolas Fontas

#1

Nicolas Fontas

Photography . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€120

Painting, Character, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 41 x 32 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Character, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 41 x 32 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Tulips, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 41 x 31 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.2 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Blue forest, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€150

Fine Art Drawings, Queen 12346, Kim Soo Young

Kim Soo Young

Fine Art Drawings . 38 x 38 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Queen 1024, Kim Soo Young

Kim Soo Young

Fine Art Drawings . 38 x 38 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Queen 12345, Kim Soo Young

Kim Soo Young

Fine Art Drawings . 38 x 38 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Girl with shoulder, Badriot

Badriot

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 21 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€900

Photography, #11, Julien Espiaut

#11

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€190

Photography, Girls, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

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

€240

Painting, Pomme, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 27 x 35 x 3 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

€350

Painting, Poires, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 27 x 35 x 3 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

€350

Painting, Banane, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 27 x 35 x 3 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

€350

Painting, A rural village, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, A forest path, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Enso 17, Christian Deplante

Christian Deplante

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€300