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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Fine Art Drawings, The Tree, Henry Lerolle

Henry Lerolle

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 10.2 x 0 inch

€450

Photography, Untitled, Enrique Seguí

Enrique Seguí

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

€600

Painting, Tondo II, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

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

€3,000

Painting, Tondo I, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

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

€3,000

Fine Art Drawings, High grass, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 46 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 18.1 x 0 inch

€499

Painting, Landes 2, AE2

AE2

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

€300

Sculpture, Alliance 3, Herrel

Herrel

Sculpture . 45 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€17,800

Painting, Pine grove, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

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

€3,500

Painting, Maggio, Sardegna, Brian King

Brian King

Painting . 39.9 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€2,774

Painting, High, Gary Westall

Gary Westall

Painting . 40.1 x 50 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.8 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

€1,128

Painting, Spring, Ketevan Kacharava

Ketevan Kacharava

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

€1,000

Painting, Untitled, Mansour El Habre

Mansour El Habre

Painting . 30 x 21 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch

€800

Painting, Summer blow, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€500

Painting, Love tree, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

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

€50

Fine Art Drawings, L'Automne, Aline Khieu

Aline Khieu

Fine Art Drawings . 29.8 x 41.8 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Paysage 7, 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

Photography, Hêtre, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.5 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, Frost, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 16.5 x 28 x 3 cm Painting . 6.5 x 11 x 1.2 inch

€538

Painting, Trees, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 18 x 32 x 3 cm Painting . 7.1 x 12.6 x 1.2 inch

€538

Painting, On Midday, Vladimir Batrakov

Vladimir Batrakov

Painting . 42 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€255

Painting, Sous-bois, Lionel le Jeune

Lionel le Jeune

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

€500 €450

Photography, Martian Bus Stop, Samsofy

Samsofy

Photography . 36 x 24 x 0.5 cm Photography . 14.2 x 9.4 x 0.2 inch

€60

Photography, Le Saule, Elizabeth H

Elizabeth H

Photography . 40 x 28 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11 inch

€500

Sculpture, Tree of Life, Jaromir Gargulak

Jaromir Gargulak

Sculpture . 42.5 x 20 x 15 cm Sculpture . 16.7 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch

€3,000

Painting, Assimilation, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Painting . 20 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 7.9 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€850

Painting, Cameron Falls, Greg Dorosh

Greg Dorosh

Painting . 38.1 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15 x 20 x 0.1 inch

€199

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