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, Portrait 9, FeiWoux Chan

FeiWoux Chan

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

€1,500

Painting, 360°, JonOne

JonOne

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

€2,450

Painting, Reflection 1, Greta Olivas

Greta Olivas

Painting . 31 x 31 x 3 cm Painting . 12.2 x 12.2 x 1.2 inch

€1,500

Painting, Humanity, Jacquelpersal

Jacquelpersal

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

€1,150

Painting, Camouflaged, Katja Wittmer

Katja Wittmer

Painting . 40.6 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 16 x 16 x 1.5 inch

€951

Sculpture, Eclair, Line Bourdoiseau

Line Bourdoiseau

Sculpture . 27 x 15 x 10 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 5.9 x 3.9 inch

€500

Painting, Spaziergang, Mila Veljac'a

Mila Veljac'a

Painting . 48 x 36 x 0.1 cm Painting . 18.9 x 14.2 x 0 inch

€850

Sculpture, Mario Fuck, FMZ Fred Morgan

FMZ Fred Morgan

Sculpture . 33 x 20 x 12 cm Sculpture . 13 x 7.9 x 4.7 inch

€890

Painting, Resilience, Liz Gartz

Liz Gartz

Painting . 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,160

Painting, Hold Tight, Ryan Crotty

Ryan Crotty

Painting . 35 x 27.5 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 10.8 x 0.8 inch

€2,880

Painting, Etoileur, Arsen

Arsen

Painting . 34 x 20 x 2 cm Painting . 13.4 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€520

Painting, Pine 2, Yao Bai

Yao Bai

Painting . 24.7 x 26 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.7 x 10.2 x 0 inch

€800

Painting, Amore, Perrine Vilmot

Perrine Vilmot

Painting . 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Rodolfo Del Castillo

Rodolfo Del Castillo

Fine Art Drawings . 45 x 37 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17.7 x 14.6 x 0.1 inch

€500

Painting, Interdit de fumer, Nasty

Nasty

Painting . 45 x 23 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 9.1 x 0.8 inch

€2,200

Painting, Guillermo, Tom Furey

Tom Furey

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.3 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.5 inch

€2,257

Painting, Portrait, Guy Ghazanchyan

Guy Ghazanchyan

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

€800

Sculpture, Color Block #12, Anne Ghez

Anne Ghez

Sculpture . 38 x 20 x 5 cm Sculpture . 15 x 7.9 x 2 inch

€1,800

Sculpture, Balance, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

Sculpture . 27 x 16 x 19 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 6.3 x 7.5 inch

€440

Painting, Breathing, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,120

Painting, Sky 030, Claude Francheteau

Claude Francheteau

Painting . 27 x 27 x 5 cm Painting . 10.6 x 10.6 x 2 inch

€405

Painting, Origin Story, Ken Garduno

Ken Garduno

Painting . 24 x 28 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11 x 0 inch

€600

Painting, Vanille Fraise, Nep-

Nep-

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

€690

Painting, Portrait, Guy Ghazanchyan

Guy Ghazanchyan

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

€800

Painting, Myself, Rinat Shaina

Rinat Shaina

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

€3,000

Painting, Arance Moro, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

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, Where I Am, Emmanuel Akolo

Emmanuel Akolo

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 1 inch

€722

Painting, West side story, Sophie Hors

Sophie Hors

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€900

Painting, Automne 29, Qiong qiong Shao

Qiong qiong Shao

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

€900

Painting, Reflection. 2, Greta Olivas

Greta Olivas

Painting . 31 x 31 x 3 cm Painting . 12.2 x 12.2 x 1.2 inch

€1,500