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 Kiss, Mino Maccari

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 50 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€800

Painting, Lightpackers, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 32 x 24 x 1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Agustín Fructuoso

Agustín Fructuoso

Fine Art Drawings . 28.5 x 37.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.2 x 14.8 x 0 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Albero giallo, Elisa Latini

Elisa Latini

Fine Art Drawings . 43 x 43 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.9 x 16.9 x 0.4 inch

€300

Painting, Mother 2, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting . 42 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€175

Painting, Combattant·e, Diane Corbin

Diane Corbin

Painting . 40 x 32 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 12.6 x 0.8 inch

€3,640

Painting, Les autres, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 2, Ivan Afronskiy

Ivan Afronskiy

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 24 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€890

Painting, Run run run, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 31 x 23 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€400

Painting, On duty, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Nurse and dog, Ray Smith

Ray Smith

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€1,100

Painting, Salon Il, Juan Li

Juan Li

Painting . 37 x 23 x 1 cm Painting . 14.6 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€650

Fine Art Drawings, Seascape, Reynold Arnould

Reynold Arnould

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 27 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 10.6 x 0.1 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, La promenade, Hermann Paul

Hermann Paul

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 25 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

€480

Painting, Printemps 4, Hanbo Li

Hanbo Li

Painting . 45 x 48 x 1 cm Painting . 17.7 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch

€800

Painting, Swallow, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 cm Painting . 9 x 12 inch

€229

Fine Art Drawings, 1er Octobre 87/2, Bernard Noël

Bernard Noël

Fine Art Drawings . 43 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, Summerfield joy, Ann Dunbar

Ann Dunbar

Painting . 21 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, Lilac, Maksym Kisilov

Maksym Kisilov

Painting . 29 x 40.9 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 16.1 x 1 inch

€642

Painting, Paysage, Guy Ribes

Guy Ribes

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€200

Painting, Venise, Vincent Pompetti

Vincent Pompetti

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

€1,100

Painting, Split Shadow, David Walker

David Walker

Painting . 35 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€1,088

Painting, Venise !, Noël Granger

Noël Granger

Painting . 21 x 29 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Arnaud GIbersztajn

Arnaud GIbersztajn

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 23 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 202, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

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

€800

Painting, Shadows, Charlotte Lenssen

Charlotte Lenssen

Painting . 46.9 x 35.5 x 4.4 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14 x 1.7 inch

€1,120

Fine Art Drawings, Parade nuptiale, Mister Pee

Mister Pee

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 inch

€400

10/45