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…

Read more
Painting, Bord, Fabien Delaube

Fabien Delaube

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

€1,200

Painting, River, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€249

Painting, Masia.Mallorca, Gaspar Riera

Gaspar Riera

Painting . 33 x 24 x 1 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€2,100

Painting, Barcelone, August Von Siegen

August Von Siegen

Painting . 18.8 x 28.8 x 2 cm Painting . 7.4 x 11.3 x 0.8 inch

€1,030

Painting, First light, Carla Bosch

Carla Bosch

Painting . 40 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,950

Photography, Solitude, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Padua, August Von Siegen

August Von Siegen

Painting . 18.8 x 28.8 x 2 cm Painting . 7.4 x 11.3 x 0.8 inch

€1,030

Painting, In the Wood, Sirio Pellegrini

Sirio Pellegrini

Painting . 49 x 41.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.3 x 16.3 x 0.2 inch

€2,400

Print, Miranda 2, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Print . 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Print . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€120

Print, L'atelier, Guy Bardone

Guy Bardone

Print . 50 x 36 cm Print . 19.7 x 14.2 inch

€200

Photography, passage secret, Michel Coste

Michel Coste

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

€180

Photography, Aire glacière, Marie VDB

Marie VDB

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€800

Painting, Field, Tetiana Chubukova

Tetiana Chubukova

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

€903

Painting, Sans titre 5, Loïc Brun

Loïc Brun

Painting . 46 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Montagne creuse, Pierre Touron

Pierre Touron

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€800

Painting, Platja, Martínez Lozano

Martínez Lozano

Painting . 38 x 45 x 3 cm Painting . 15 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

€3,200

Painting, Volcan, Vanitira

Vanitira

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

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Landscape, Sirio Pellegrini

Sirio Pellegrini

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 23 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.1 x 0.2 inch

€2,000

Print, Sisyphus, Jingjing Xu

Jingjing Xu

Print . 29.7 x 42 x 0.3 cm Print . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€600

Painting, Salty Air II, Karen Hale

Karen Hale

Painting . 50.8 x 50.8 x 3.8 cm Painting . 20 x 20 x 1.5 inch

€1,107

Painting, Paysages 247, Jun Peng Wu

Jun Peng Wu

Painting . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€900

Print, Black Flag, Santiago Sierra

Santiago Sierra

Print . 31 x 31.5 x 0.4 cm Print . 12.2 x 12.4 x 0.2 inch

€6,000

Painting, Early spring, V. Krikhatsky

V. Krikhatsky

Painting . 19 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 7.5 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€829

Photography, Ainsi Pont, Vivien Raynal

Vivien Raynal

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

€350

Painting, Splatch !, Cédrick Vannier

Cédrick Vannier

Painting . 30.6 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 12 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,600

Painting, Scenery 1, Anastasya Lyulina

Anastasya Lyulina

Painting . 40.5 x 30.5 x 1 cm Painting . 15.9 x 12 x 0.4 inch

€361