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, Tulips, Nadezda Stupina

Nadezda Stupina

Painting . 37 x 35 x 1 cm Painting . 14.6 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€360

Painting, Plums, Nadezda Stupina

Nadezda Stupina

Painting . 35 x 37 x 1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 14.6 x 0.4 inch

€360

Painting, Duo, Françoise Danel

Duo

Françoise Danel

Painting . 30 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€450

Painting, Cylindrism 4, Andrea Vandoni

Andrea Vandoni

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

€700

Painting, Three, Anyck Alvarez Kerloch

Anyck Alvarez Kerloch

Painting . 40.6 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€380

Painting, Flowers V, Sona Adalyan

Sona Adalyan

Painting . 29.8 x 20.8 x 0.2 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.2 x 0.1 inch

€260

Painting, Flower fantasy, Galina Kulaga

Galina Kulaga

Painting . 40 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€275

Photography, Red III, Carles Prat-Placis

Carles Prat-Placis

Photography . 33 x 33 x 1 cm Photography . 13 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€222

Painting, Easter days, Oksana Ivanyuk

Oksana Ivanyuk

Painting . 25 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€225

Painting, Ruby Richness, Vlas Ayvazyan

Vlas Ayvazyan

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

€229

Painting, Pomegranates, Vlas Ayvazyan

Vlas Ayvazyan

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

€220 €176

Fine Art Drawings, Ink album (Jug), Zakhar Shevchuk

Zakhar Shevchuk

Fine Art Drawings . 28 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, The Eye, Dondi Schwartz

Dondi Schwartz

Painting . 30 x 45 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

€500

Painting, Autunno, Lorena Fonsato

Lorena Fonsato

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

€170

Photography, Orange I, Carles Prat-Placis

Carles Prat-Placis

Photography . 33 x 33 x 1 cm Photography . 13 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€222

Painting, Camera, Tengiz Cholokava

Tengiz Cholokava

Painting . 30.3 x 10.3 x 1 cm Painting . 11.9 x 4.1 x 0.4 inch

€280

Sculpture, Untitled, Rafal Piesliak

Rafal Piesliak

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

€700

Photography, Asymetric, Carles Prat-Placis

Carles Prat-Placis

Photography . 33 x 33 x 1 cm Photography . 13 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€222

Painting, Expansion, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

Painting . 41.5 x 29.5 x 0.01 cm Painting . 16.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€400

Print, Borsa, Tino Stefanoni

Tino Stefanoni

Print . 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Blumenstueck 2, Mela

Mela

Painting . 40 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€423

Photography, Ancora, Carles Prat-Placis

Carles Prat-Placis

Photography . 33 x 33 x 1 cm Photography . 13 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€222

Painting, Morning Peony, Olga Volna

Olga Volna

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

€394

Painting, Moule-melon, Thierry Robert

Thierry Robert

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

€300

Painting, Moule-poire, Thierry Robert

Thierry Robert

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

€300

Photography, Tendrilness, Sylvia Fournier

Sylvia Fournier

Photography . 30 x 22 x 0.01 cm Photography . 11.8 x 8.7 x 0 inch

€325

Painting, Red tulips, Elena Sokolova

Elena Sokolova

Painting . 50 x 39.9 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€403

Photography, Nature morte II, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 20 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€350

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