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, Apples, Kalya Zografova

Kalya Zografova

Painting . 40 x 50 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

€900

Sculpture, Feuillages, Thalia Dalecky

Thalia Dalecky

Sculpture . 42 x 32 x 28 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 12.6 x 11 inch

€1,400

Painting, Fleur jaune, Alfred Defossez

Alfred Defossez

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2.5 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 1 inch

€1,250

Fine Art Drawings, Lemon season I, Karina Lara

Karina Lara

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 19.7 inch

€820

Painting, Vanité or, Philippe Pasqua

Philippe Pasqua

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€3,990

Painting, What remains, Liz Gartz

Liz Gartz

Painting . 25 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 9.8 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€900

Painting, Jessie, Ksana Krasá

Ksana Krasá

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€2,300

Painting, White noise, Julie Panch

Julie Panch

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

€1,500

Painting, Exotic trip, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 46 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€3,000

Painting, One Summers Day, Lisa House

Lisa House

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

€825

Fine Art Drawings, Fleurs, Gen Paul

Gen Paul

Fine Art Drawings . 40.5 x 30 x 0.05 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€1,500

Painting, P1.15, Jean Feinberg

Jean Feinberg

Painting . 32.4 x 33.1 cm Painting . 12.8 x 13 inch

€1,446

Painting, Still Life, Felicita Frai

Felicita Frai

Painting . 38.5 x 44 x 1 cm Painting . 15.2 x 17.3 x 0.4 inch

€3,400

Painting, Fleurs n°2, Georges Darel

Georges Darel

Painting . 46 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€889

Painting, Country Bread, Enzo Montana

Enzo Montana

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

€1,800

Painting, Sans titre, Jean Fautrier

Jean Fautrier

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

€15,000

Design, Frozen Tears, Tom Wesselmann

Tom Wesselmann

Design . 26 x 26 x 2 cm Design . 10.2 x 10.2 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Coltelli, Valerio Adami

Valerio Adami

Fine Art Drawings . 48 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.9 x 14.2 inch

€8,000

Fine Art Drawings, Green (men), Manuel Santelices

Manuel Santelices

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 14 x 0.1 inch

€497

Painting, Pop Colt, Levalet

Levalet

Painting . 27 x 27 x 4.5 cm Painting . 10.6 x 10.6 x 1.8 inch

€1,100

Sculpture, Emballages, Angélique

Angélique

Sculpture . 45 x 32 x 32 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 12.6 x 12.6 inch

€4,000

Painting, L'Oeuf, Edouard Arthur

Edouard Arthur

Painting . 23.5 x 30.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 9.3 x 12 x 0.2 inch

€1,132

Sculpture, Petrus, Les Frères Guinet

Les Frères Guinet

Sculpture . 30 x 15 x 12 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 5.9 x 4.7 inch

€4,800

Painting, Duo, Alain Géneau

Duo

Alain Géneau

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

€2,900

Painting, Jardin, Juan Li

Juan Li

Painting . 47 x 36 x 1 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14.2 x 0.4 inch

€800

Painting, Dollar, André Schulze

André Schulze

Painting . 46 x 36 x 1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 14.2 x 0.4 inch

€2,650

Painting, Yellow laces, Ihar Sviancicki

Ihar Sviancicki

Painting . 35 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,400

Painting, Fruit, Josep Cruañas

Josep Cruañas

Painting . 21 x 26 x 1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 10.2 x 0.4 inch

€900

Sculpture, Candelabra, Genesis Belanger

Genesis Belanger

Sculpture . 28 x 19 x 12.7 cm Sculpture . 11 x 7.5 x 5 inch

€10,601

Painting, Piano, David Jamin

David Jamin

Painting . 33 x 41 x 2.5 cm Painting . 13 x 16.1 x 1 inch

€900