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, Sunset, Aurélie Trabaud

Aurélie Trabaud

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€2,100

Painting, RDG 205615, Yigit Yazici

Yigit Yazici

Painting . 26 x 26 x 1.5 cm Painting . 10.2 x 10.2 x 0.6 inch

€1,121

Painting, Cactus, Delphine Hogarth

Delphine Hogarth

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

€1,749

Painting, Sans Titre, Laurent HDBX

Laurent HDBX

Painting . 50 x 50 x 12 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 4.7 inch

€1,550 €1,395

Painting, A Small Bird, Janusz Stanny

Janusz Stanny

Painting . 21 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€1,900

Painting, Totem Bleu, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 27 x 19 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 7.5 x 0.8 inch

€200

Painting, La séance de Yoga, Zafi

Zafi

Painting . 49 x 49 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 0 inch

€1,450

Painting, Surprised, Anthony Vella

Anthony Vella

Painting . 42 x 29.7 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 inch

€150

Painting, P069, Eric Cruikshank

Eric Cruikshank

Painting . 44 x 37 x 0.1 cm Painting . 17.3 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€2,408

Painting, Kakapo, Irina Sazonova

Irina Sazonova

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch

€1,346

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, Mustang, Augustina Droze

Augustina Droze

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

€3,795

Painting, Rose Up, 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, Vestige, Laurens Heurtebise

Laurens Heurtebise

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

€1,700

Print, DEATHP629, Death NYC

Death NYC

Print . 32 x 45 x 0.1 cm Print . 12.6 x 17.7 x 0 inch

€199 €150

Sculpture, Paint Coke Pop, Nikki Floran

Nikki Floran

Sculpture . 27 x 23 x 6 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 9.1 x 2.4 inch

€2,890

Painting, Winter mood, Eugene Petrov

Eugene Petrov

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

€380

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, Détachement, Navema

Navema

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

€780

Photography, The New Thinker, Akabat Str8t

Akabat Str8t

Photography . 30.2 x 20.2 x 0.01 cm Photography . 11.9 x 8 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Resonance V, Susan L

Susan L

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

€1,607

Painting, Toujours des idées, Jazzu

Jazzu

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.4 inch

€650

Painting, The Pool, Irfan Ajvazi

Irfan Ajvazi

Painting . 31 x 31 x 1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 12.2 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

Painting, Entrelacs 4, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€990

Painting, The Arch, Nataliya Gurshman

Nataliya Gurshman

Painting . 15.2 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Painting . 6 x 18 x 0.1 inch

€483

Print, Niche, Jean Roba

Jean Roba

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

€550

Sculpture, Medusa, Ron Zohar

Ron Zohar

Sculpture . 41 x 25 x 24 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 9.8 x 9.4 inch

€7,400 €6,660

Painting, Guardians 2, Lena Langer

Lena Langer

Painting . 30 x 30 x 15 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 5.9 inch

€897

Painting, Regard B, J Eleme

J Eleme

Painting . 24 x 33 x 1.5 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13 x 0.6 inch

€300

Painting, Two, Irina Danilova

Two

Irina Danilova

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

€800

Painting, Goldorak 1 Box 3D, Wawapod

Wawapod

Painting . 42 x 32 x 2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 12.6 x 0.8 inch

€650

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