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, Sea, Tetiana Chubukova

Sea

Tetiana Chubukova

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1.8 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.7 inch

€505

Painting, Untitled, Lola Sergounine

Lola Sergounine

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

€450

Painting, God is Here, Lola Sergounine

Lola Sergounine

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

€450

Photography, Déclin, Coralie Honnorat

Coralie Honnorat

Photography . 34 x 23 x 0.1 cm Photography . 13.4 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€200

Painting, Nuphar Lutea, Gary Westall

Gary Westall

Painting . 25.1 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 9.9 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€362

Photography, Louvre I, Shengqi Tang

Shengqi Tang

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

€650

Photography, Sans titre 4, Sylva Sylva

Sylva Sylva

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

€260

Photography, Captif, Coralie Honnorat

Coralie Honnorat

Photography . 22 x 34 x 0.1 cm Photography . 8.7 x 13.4 x 0 inch

€200

Photography, Refuge, Coralie Honnorat

Coralie Honnorat

Photography . 22 x 34 x 0.1 cm Photography . 8.7 x 13.4 x 0 inch

€200

Painting, Swan and kids, Elena Sokolova

Elena Sokolova

Painting . 35.1 x 44.5 x 1.3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.5 x 0.5 inch

€322

Photography, Swimmers, Elena Bandurka

Elena Bandurka

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

€367

Photography, Swimmers, Elena Bandurka

Elena Bandurka

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

€367

Fine Art Drawings, Efecte d'altitud 37, Pep Vidal

Pep Vidal

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 29.7 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.7 inch

€1,250

Painting, Old Barns, Milan Laciak

Milan Laciak

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

€330

Photography, Volcan, Coralie Honnorat

Coralie Honnorat

Photography . 24 x 33 x 0.1 cm Photography . 9.4 x 13 x 0 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Le Petit ilot, Gaelle Beyaert

Gaelle Beyaert

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 22 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch

€290

Photography, Birds #8, Karine Nicolleau

Karine Nicolleau

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

€250

Photography, Horse Bath, Alain Le Garsmeur

Alain Le Garsmeur

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

€455

Photography, Éther, Coralie Honnorat

Coralie Honnorat

Photography . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€200

Painting, Sadness, Tetiana Chubukova

Tetiana Chubukova

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

€275

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre 17, Katsuko Kuroya

Katsuko Kuroya

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€160

Photography, Birds #6, Karine Nicolleau

Karine Nicolleau

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

€250

Photography, Purple Sky, Kat Zhivetin

Kat Zhivetin

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

€266

Painting, Magnolia, Alexandra Laskina

Alexandra Laskina

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

€184

Fine Art Drawings, Country Man, Nina Narimanishvili

Nina Narimanishvili

Fine Art Drawings . 22 x 28 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.7 x 11 x 0 inch

€370

Photography, Freedom, Jan Brunclík

Jan Brunclík

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

€450

Photography, Chiran, Fabrizio Alzati

Fabrizio Alzati

Photography . 20 x 27 cm Photography . 7.9 x 10.6 inch

€350

Photography, Night tide, Richard Dunkley

Richard Dunkley

Photography . 36.6 x 45.7 cm Photography . 14.4 x 18 inch

€242

Photography, Mystère, Coralie Honnorat

Coralie Honnorat

Photography . 22 x 34 x 0.1 cm Photography . 8.7 x 13.4 x 0 inch

€200

Photography, Le passage, Karine Nicolleau

Karine Nicolleau

Photography . 33 x 49.5 x 0.1 cm Photography . 13 x 19.5 x 0 inch

€270

Photography, Le coq, Karine Nicolleau

Karine Nicolleau

Photography . 27 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€250

Photography, Birds #11, Karine Nicolleau

Karine Nicolleau

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

€250

Photography, Birds #10, Karine Nicolleau

Karine Nicolleau

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

€250

Photography, Birds #9, Karine Nicolleau

Karine Nicolleau

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

€250

Photography, Birds #3, Karine Nicolleau

Karine Nicolleau

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

€250

Painting, Parque del este, Carmeli Polo

Carmeli Polo

Painting . 21.5 x 31.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.5 x 12.4 x 0 inch

€470

Photography, Totem, Coralie Honnorat

Coralie Honnorat

Photography . 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€200

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