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, 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

Painting, Nature morte, Gilbert Pauli

Gilbert Pauli

Painting . 41 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,358

Painting, Nature morte, Yves Bonhomme

Yves Bonhomme

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

€1,450

Painting, Concert, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,690

Painting, Rose luggage, Won Chin Tong

Won Chin Tong

Painting . 40 x 25 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,340

Sculpture, Le baiser, Tiziano Sculpteur

Tiziano Sculpteur

Sculpture . 45 x 28 x 28 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 11 x 11 inch

€2,300

Painting, Sans titre, Bram van Velde

Bram van Velde

Painting . 22 x 29 cm Painting . 8.7 x 11.4 inch

€30,000

Photography, 1/The magician, Emma Anna

Emma Anna

Photography . 39.4 x 26.7 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15.5 x 10.5 x 0.1 inch

€820

Painting, Le Vase bleu, Pascal Perrin

Pascal Perrin

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

€2,500

Painting, Party, Vcan

Vcan

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

€1,150

Painting, Chair, Susumu Uchiyama

Susumu Uchiyama

Painting . 44.5 x 37 x 1 cm Painting . 17.5 x 14.6 x 0.4 inch

€1,100

Painting, Mud Bug, David Sipko

David Sipko

Painting . 31.2 x 36.3 x 2.5 cm Painting . 12.3 x 14.3 x 1 inch

€319

Painting, Cherries, Zhang Wei Guang

Zhang Wei Guang

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

€6,500

Photography, Pixelito II, Colomba Pino

Colomba Pino

Photography . 22 x 33.5 cm Photography . 8.7 x 13.2 inch

€700

Painting, Fiori e sole, Laura Mateare

Laura Mateare

Painting . 45 x 35 x 3 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Print, Vintage Port, Nobu Haihara

Nobu Haihara

Print . 43.2 x 25.4 x 5.1 cm Print . 17 x 10 x 2 inch

€1,048

Fine Art Drawings, Pain et couteau, Raoul Ubac

Raoul Ubac

Fine Art Drawings . 36 x 42 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14.2 x 16.5 inch

€10,000

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

Print, Fragile, Rolanda Jongerius

Rolanda Jongerius

Print . 30 x 20 x 2 cm Print . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€1,000

Painting, Sans titre, Suzanne Elath

Suzanne Elath

Painting . 33.5 x 23.5 cm Painting . 13.2 x 9.3 inch

€1,800

Painting, Breakfast, Alisa Diakova

Alisa Diakova

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

€684

Painting, The box, Ihar Sviancicki

Ihar Sviancicki

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

€2,600

Painting, Mainstream, Salvatore Alessi

Salvatore Alessi

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,900

Painting, Magnolia, Menno Modderman

Menno Modderman

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

€680 €578

Painting, The box, Igor Sventitski

Igor Sventitski

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

€2,400

Painting, Lego, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

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, Mainstream, Salvatore Alessi

Salvatore Alessi

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,900

Painting, A feast, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Photography, #8, Julien Espiaut

#8

Julien Espiaut

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

€390

Painting, VinFucsia, Silvia Montanari

Silvia Montanari

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

€360

Painting, Red fruits, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,120