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, Arbre, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.01 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€800

Painting, Forest Magic, Emily Mae

Emily Mae

Painting . 30 x 25 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch

€590

Painting, Cedar Roots, Kathleen Ney

Kathleen Ney

Painting . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€601

Painting, Paysages 803, Xiu

Xiu

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

€700

Painting, Paysage chinois 721, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 720, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 717, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Untamed, Lori Bagnérès

Lori Bagnérès

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3.8 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.5 inch

€2,360

Fine Art Drawings, Frondaison, 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, Happy lake, Ksenia Tsyganyuk

Ksenia Tsyganyuk

Painting . 30 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

€500

Painting, Colourful summer, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€500

Painting, Paysage chinois 726, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 724, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 723, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, N'oublie pas, Gaelle Beyaert

Gaelle Beyaert

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

€180

Painting, Solitude, Fabien Gäng

Fabien Gäng

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

€1,569

Painting, Paysage chinois 718, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Birds, Rinalds Vanadzins

Rinalds Vanadzins

Painting . 49.8 x 39.9 x 1.8 cm Painting . 19.6 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

€888

Painting, Birches, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 25 x 25.3 x 0.3 cm Painting . 9.8 x 10 x 0.1 inch

€3,600

Painting, Paysage chinois 714, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 709, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Printemps, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 114, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600 €540

Painting, Paysage chinois 11, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Up the Hills, Jozef Svikruha

Jozef Svikruha

Painting . 35 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting . 13.8 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

€520

Painting, Forest road 4, Elena Sokolova

Elena Sokolova

Painting . 35.1 x 45 x 1.3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.5 inch

€300

Print, Lagoon, Leszek Rózga

Leszek Rózga

Print . 32 x 24 cm Print . 12.6 x 9.4 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, Enluminures, 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

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