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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Fine Art Drawings, Femme feuille, Michèle Coudert

Michèle Coudert

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€400

Print, Bazaar, Deanna Frosini

Deanna Frosini

Print . 30 x 29 x 0.2 cm Print . 11.8 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€250

Sculpture, Pour ma Maman 16/80, Stratos

Stratos

Sculpture . 40 x 15 x 9 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 5.9 x 3.5 inch

€1,100

Painting, A vif, Jazzu

Jazzu

Painting . 45 x 25 x 3 cm Painting . 17.7 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,050

Painting, Sans titre, Esmaël Bahrani

Esmaël Bahrani

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

€1,100

Painting, Habano, Seaty

Seaty

Painting . 39 x 23 x 4 cm Painting . 15.4 x 9.1 x 1.6 inch

€4,400

Sculpture, Linette, Astroman

Astroman

Sculpture . 47 x 17 x 35 cm Sculpture . 18.5 x 6.7 x 13.8 inch

€12,000

Print, Le retour, Henri Guibal

Henri Guibal

Print . 44 x 30 x 0.3 cm Print . 17.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Le Brun, Robert Combas

Robert Combas

Painting . 33 x 24 x 7 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 2.8 inch

€16,000

Painting, African Woman, Dragana Adamov

Dragana Adamov

Painting . 45 x 34.5 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.6 x 0.8 inch

€280

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled drawing, Clemens Briels

Clemens Briels

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 26.7 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 10.5 x 0.2 inch

€1,077

Painting, Frowner, Jean-Luc Almond

Jean-Luc Almond

Painting . 26 x 35 cm Painting . 10.2 x 13.8 inch

€1,630

Painting, Rude children, Aina Tejedo

Aina Tejedo

Painting . 44.5 x 43.5 x 3 cm Painting . 17.5 x 17.1 x 1.2 inch

€500

Print, La derniere lettre, Levalet

Levalet

Print . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€160

Print, The Rescue, Ibrahim Kodra

Ibrahim Kodra

Print . 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€360

Painting, Beauté 12, Kaige Yang

Kaige Yang

Painting . 50 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€2,300

Sculpture, The scream II, Irina Shark

Irina Shark

Sculpture . 28 x 30 x 25 cm Sculpture . 11 x 11.8 x 9.8 inch

€6,000

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 19.7 inch

€1,000

Sculpture, Lion, Will's String Art

Will's String Art

Sculpture . 50 x 50 x 1.2 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.5 inch

€302

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, Emotion, Elisabeth Besnier

Elisabeth Besnier

Painting . 41 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,800

Painting, Céleste, Jules Atarax

Jules Atarax

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

€2,500

Print, Erica, Taisia Korotkova

Taisia Korotkova

Print . 41 x 30 cm Print . 16.1 x 11.8 inch

€200

Painting, Abstract Pound, Su Yu

Su Yu

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

€1,200

Sculpture, Hymm 012, Sudiczki

Sudiczki

Sculpture . 39 x 24.5 x 20 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 9.6 x 7.9 inch

€2,000

Print, St, Pablo Picasso

St

Pablo Picasso

Print . 32 x 39 x 0.5 cm Print . 12.6 x 15.4 x 0.2 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Sun Day, tizlu

tizlu

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 40 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

€1,400 €1,120

Sculpture, Posing, Alex Radionov

Alex Radionov

Sculpture . 40 x 22 x 10 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 8.7 x 3.9 inch

€3,600

Print, Sans titre, Pat Andrea

Pat Andrea

Print . 28.5 x 38 x 0.2 cm Print . 11.2 x 15 x 0.1 inch

€350

Print, Camille Claudel 1/100, C215

C215

Print . 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Print . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€650

Painting, Sans titre, Esmaël Bahrani

Esmaël Bahrani

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

€1,100

22/100