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, Song of the Pines, Kirill Postovit

Kirill Postovit

Fine Art Drawings . 18 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.1 x 10.2 x 0 inch

€260 €182

Painting, Landscape 1, Layla Dagher

Layla Dagher

Painting . 14 x 30 cm Painting . 5.5 x 11.8 inch

€698

Painting, Dream of Spring, Lexi Caiqin

Lexi Caiqin

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

€7,600

Painting, Paysage, Paul Mathey

Paul Mathey

Painting . 34 x 47 x 1 cm Painting . 13.4 x 18.5 x 0.4 inch

€1,044

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

Fine Art Drawings, Bulles, 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, Blue landscape, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€300

Painting, Embracing Autumn, Vahe Bagumyan

Vahe Bagumyan

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

€199 €169

Sculpture, La petite tour, Marc Bourlier

Marc Bourlier

Sculpture . 36 x 16 x 14 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 6.3 x 5.5 inch

€2,200

Painting, Entry, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

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

€1,374

Painting, Memory, Lauren Acton

Lauren Acton

Painting . 33 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting . 13 x 20 x 1 inch

€859

Photography, Sans titre, Stéphane Spach

Stéphane Spach

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€900

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

Painting, Branches, Jonathan Pradillon

Jonathan Pradillon

Painting . 33.5 x 41.5 x 2 cm Painting . 13.2 x 16.3 x 0.8 inch

€150

Painting, Rayon, Jonathan Pradillon

Jonathan Pradillon

Painting . 38 x 46 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15 x 18.1 x 0 inch

€300

Sculpture, Felt Hawthorn, Emma Levine

Emma Levine

Sculpture . 45 x 45 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 17.7 inch

€2,533

Painting, Winter motif, M. Kogan-Shatz

M. Kogan-Shatz

Painting . 49 x 49 x 2 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 0.8 inch

€999

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

Photography, La fourmi, Jean Valera

Jean Valera

Photography . 40 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€650

Painting, Belonging 14, Ghada Jamal

Ghada Jamal

Painting . 30 x 42 cm Painting . 11.8 x 16.5 inch

€904

Painting, Blooms II, Anastassia Skopp

Anastassia Skopp

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

€350

Painting, Paysage 505, Xiu

Xiu

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

€600

Painting, Paysage 217, Xiu

Xiu

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

€600

Painting, Sans titre, Matthieu Dorval

Matthieu Dorval

Painting . 27 x 22 x 1 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.4 inch

€750

Painting, Gardens Blossoms, Yehor Dulin

Yehor Dulin

Painting . 35 x 45 x 1.8 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.7 inch

€542

Painting, Golden autumn, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 20 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€3,500

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