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, Ocres Rouges, Eurgal

Eurgal

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

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Eguisheim (SP02), Sandrine Piegay

Sandrine Piegay

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 42 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€900

Painting, B1 Genova, Mario Domenicale

Mario Domenicale

Painting . 25 x 35 x 0.2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€180

Painting, In my Dream, Park Hyo Jung

Park Hyo Jung

Painting . 50 x 50 x 7 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2.8 inch

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, English village, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Fine Art Drawings . 21.5 x 30.6 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.5 x 12 x 0 inch

€2,500

Painting, Early spring, V. Krikhatsky

V. Krikhatsky

Painting . 19 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 7.5 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€829

Painting, Spring, Yaroslav Savchyn

Yaroslav Savchyn

Painting . 30 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€350

Painting, Selo 17, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

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

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Provencale No. 12, Pascal Plazanet

Pascal Plazanet

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€1,400

Fine Art Drawings, Armenian Village, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 50 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€470

Painting, La vie en couleurs, KLO

KLO

Painting . 40 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€120

Painting, 4 Cassis, Mario Domenicale

Mario Domenicale

Painting . 21 x 36 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8.3 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch

€180

Painting, Evening, A. Strelov

A. Strelov

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

€1,125

Painting, Gorom, Maarten Demmink

Maarten Demmink

Painting . 27 x 48 x 1 cm Painting . 10.6 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch

€1,500

Painting, Meadow, A. Strelov

A. Strelov

Painting . 35 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€949

Painting, Untitled 2, Francine Ledieu

Francine Ledieu

Painting . 23.5 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€1,300

Painting, Blooming May, Kovalenko Ivan

Kovalenko Ivan

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

€460

Painting, Towards sunset, A. Strelov

A. Strelov

Painting . 35 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,035

Painting, Chilly, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 26 x 45 x 0.3 cm Painting . 10.2 x 17.7 x 0.1 inch

€542

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, Bord de mer, KLO

KLO

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

€90

Painting, Kolochava, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 20 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€542

Painting, N3, Florence Malcombe

N3

Florence Malcombe

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 2 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.8 inch

€140

Painting, Costa Brava, Sola Puig

Sola Puig

Painting . 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Autumn Day, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 35 x 41 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 16.1 x 0.1 inch

€903

Painting, Village 4, Daozhou Huang

Daozhou Huang

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

€450

Painting, Selo-B, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

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

€250