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, Guillermo, Tom Furey

Tom Furey

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

€2,276

Painting, Brise marine, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,690

Painting, Les mots bleus, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,750

Painting, Untitled, Pietro Beretta

Pietro Beretta

Painting . 24.5 x 30.5 x 0.2 cm Painting . 9.6 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€750

Sculpture, Boots, Codina Corona

Codina Corona

Sculpture . 35 x 35 x 15 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 13.8 x 5.9 inch

€3,000

Print, Man and Dog, Annora Spence

Annora Spence

Print . 43.2 x 44.5 x 5.1 cm Print . 17 x 17.5 x 2 inch

€1,138

Print, Elusive dancer, Jean Peterson

Jean Peterson

Print . 25 x 32.5 x 0.2 cm Print . 9.8 x 12.8 x 0.1 inch

€180 €162

Sculpture, Wave Pearl True Bleu, KX2

KX2

Sculpture . 27 x 27 x 9 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 10.6 x 3.5 inch

€1,600

Painting, Amarillo, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,850

Painting, Mon atelier, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,500

Sculpture, Blue, El Nio

El Nio

Sculpture . 24 x 33.5 x 6 cm Sculpture . 9.4 x 13.2 x 2.4 inch

€430

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Josep Gibernau

Josep Gibernau

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 32 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 12.6 inch

€888

Painting, Disconnect, Irish Galon

Irish Galon

Painting . 30 x 23 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€1,190

Fine Art Drawings, Love, Tina Loiodice

Tina Loiodice

Fine Art Drawings . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Mona Lisa Pfizer, Katia Ferrari

Katia Ferrari

Fine Art Drawings . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Mr Iris, Yevgen Prymachenko

Yevgen Prymachenko

Sculpture . 40 x 30 x 20 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 inch

€1,365

Painting, Hope, Tetiana Chubukova

Tetiana Chubukova

Painting . 30 x 20 x 1.6 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.6 inch

€901

Print, Sans titre, Lionel

Lionel

Print . 29.5 x 23 cm Print . 11.6 x 9.1 inch

€220

Fine Art Drawings, Passion 9, Akira Inumaru

Akira Inumaru

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Spyrite 7, Guillaume Roche

Guillaume Roche

Sculpture . 45 x 20 x 15 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch

€1,900

Painting, Lull, Robert Inestroza

Robert Inestroza

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

€520

Sculpture, Abstraction Orange, Costa

Costa

Sculpture . 30 x 40 x 4 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,600

Sculpture, SGR, Guoyi Liu

SGR

Guoyi Liu

Sculpture . 40 x 15 x 12 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 5.9 x 4.7 inch

€950

Painting, Love is life, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Sculpture, Artefact M01, Manon Oller

Manon Oller

Sculpture . 37 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture . 14.6 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€850

Sculpture, Amoureux, Ousmane Dermé

Ousmane Dermé

Sculpture . 35 x 13 x 7 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 5.1 x 2.8 inch

€2,500

Fine Art Drawings, Color Blocks, Dean Tavoularis

Dean Tavoularis

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 24 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€900

Sculpture, Chapeau l'artiste, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 35 x 10.5 x 27 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 4.1 x 10.6 inch

€3,450

Sculpture, Cheval baroque, Ariel PY

Ariel PY

Sculpture . 21 x 30 x 15 cm Sculpture . 8.3 x 11.8 x 5.9 inch

€600

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