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, Otoño, Svetlana Zhirnova

Svetlana Zhirnova

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch

€1,800

Painting, Landes 1, AE2

AE2

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

€300 €285

Painting, Landscape 5, Layla Dagher

Layla Dagher

Painting . 19 x 29 cm Painting . 7.5 x 11.4 inch

€800

Painting, L'arbre rouge, Autonne

Autonne

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

€800

Painting, Fleurs III, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

Painting . 50 x 50 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€3,800

Painting, En Els Temps, Lucena Tate

Lucena Tate

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

€800

Painting, Sans titre, Patrick Loste

Patrick Loste

Painting . 30 x 25 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch

€1,000

Painting, Fall Color, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

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

€1,390

Painting, Untitled, Mansour El Habre

Mansour El Habre

Painting . 28 x 21 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Moonlight, Roberto Cuccaro

Roberto Cuccaro

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

€2,000

Painting, Junglekreek, Peter de Boer

Peter de Boer

Painting . 45 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,150

Painting, Landscape 28, Layla Dagher

Layla Dagher

Painting . 26 x 26 cm Painting . 10.2 x 10.2 inch

€900

Painting, Irish coffe, Thomas Loyatho

Thomas Loyatho

Painting . 31 x 48 x 3 cm Painting . 12.2 x 18.9 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, Les bouleaux, Eurgal

Eurgal

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Winter grove, 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

Print, Sous bois, Joel Giraud

Joel Giraud

Print . 50 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€120

Painting, Landscape, Mitko Dimitrov

Mitko Dimitrov

Painting . 43.5 x 36 x 2 cm Painting . 17.1 x 14.2 x 0.8 inch

€380

Painting, It's this way, Despa Hondros

Despa Hondros

Painting . 35.5 x 25 x 2 cm Painting . 14 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Photography, Svyatibor, Mihaela Ivanova

Mihaela Ivanova

Photography . 50 x 50 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€910

Painting, Blooming, Yuriy Demiyanov

Yuriy Demiyanov

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

€5,600

Painting, Road to the sea, Elena Lukina

Elena Lukina

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

€1,080

Print, Cobra, Pierre Alechinsky

Pierre Alechinsky

Print . 34 x 27 cm Print . 13.4 x 10.6 inch

€400

Print, Rock Formation, Artis Reigo

Artis Reigo

Print . 27.9 x 35.6 x 5.1 cm Print . 11 x 14 x 2 inch

€179

Painting, Rainy drive, Agnes Nicholson

Agnes Nicholson

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 1.3 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.5 inch

€906

Painting, Landes 3, AE2

AE2

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

€300 €285

Painting, Settling in II, Susan L

Susan L

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

€1,607

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