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, A few dwellings, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€550

Painting, Etude 120, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 26 x 26 x 0.3 cm Painting . 10.2 x 10.2 x 0.1 inch

€734

Print, Lion, Bernard Louédin

Bernard Louédin

Print . 28 x 20 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€160

Painting, Early spring, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 22 x 35 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€3,198

Painting, Bratsevo Estate, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 25 x 35 x 0.3 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€3,700

Fine Art Drawings, Porto Pollo_17, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€460

Painting, Réf/8795, Patrick Loste

Patrick Loste

Painting . 26.5 x 21 cm Painting . 10.4 x 8.3 inch

€700

Painting, Réf/8793, Patrick Loste

Patrick Loste

Painting . 26.5 x 21 cm Painting . 10.4 x 8.3 inch

€700

Painting, Green nature, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€400

Photography, Woman, Eugenie Killikh

Eugenie Killikh

Photography . 38 x 25.4 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15 x 10 x 0.1 inch

€1,101

Photography, Duality, Eugenie Killikh

Eugenie Killikh

Photography . 38 x 38 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15 x 15 x 0.1 inch

€1,101

Print, Late Winter, Artis Reigo

Artis Reigo

Print . 29.2 x 19.1 x 5.1 cm Print . 11.5 x 7.5 x 2 inch

€184

Painting, Winter Hill, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.2 inch

€1,422

Painting, Rising Moon, MaryAnn Cleary

MaryAnn Cleary

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.2 inch

€514

Painting, Marbella, AVEL Muñoz

AVEL Muñoz

Painting . 36 x 28 x 3 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11 x 1.2 inch

€800

Photography, Tracks XVI, Bruno Charoy

Bruno Charoy

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

€800

Painting, Rivage, Jean-Pierre Lorand

Jean-Pierre Lorand

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

€1,700

Fine Art Drawings, Branchage, Olivier Picy

Olivier Picy

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€140

Painting, Entrancement, Liubou Sas

Liubou Sas

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

€2,200

Painting, Little Tree, Timon Sloane

Timon Sloane

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 1.3 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.5 inch

€528

Photography, Untitled #1, Josef Nadj

Josef Nadj

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

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Non titré, Jack Hironimus

Jack Hironimus

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 41 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 16.1 inch

€260

Painting, Winter evening, Olga Mozul

Olga Mozul

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

€642

Photography, Arbre mort, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€600

Sculpture, Reader L, Jose Manuel Solares

Jose Manuel Solares

Sculpture . 30 x 14 x 10 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 5.5 x 3.9 inch

€300 €270

Painting, Eclisse, Alexander Daniloff

Alexander Daniloff

Painting . 45 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€350 €315

Fine Art Drawings, Deconstruction, Nagsoul

Nagsoul

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 36 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 155, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 inch

€700

Photography, Chemin, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€600

Photography, Village YaoLi, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€600

Photography, Ciel serie 21, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€600

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