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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Sculpture, Abstraction Jaune, Costa

Costa

Sculpture . 30 x 40 x 4 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,600

Painting, Sofoco, Carmen Cañadas

Carmen Cañadas

Painting . 41 x 22 x 3 cm Painting . 16.1 x 8.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,300

Photography, Un jardin, Yves Hayat

Yves Hayat

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

€2,200

Sculpture, Eclair, Line Bourdoiseau

Line Bourdoiseau

Sculpture . 27 x 15 x 10 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 5.9 x 3.9 inch

€500

Painting, Beauté 17, Kaige Yang

Kaige Yang

Painting . 50 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€2,300

Painting, Figure, Sergio Barletta

Sergio Barletta

Painting . 28 x 22 x 0.2 cm Painting . 11 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

€850

Painting, Transplant, Gregg Smith

Gregg Smith

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

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Ritual, Eter Merkviladze

Eter Merkviladze

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 26 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 10.2 x 0.1 inch

€850

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Reyner

Reyner

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, Le Chaman, Adrien Lombardo

Adrien Lombardo

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€550

Painting, All that jazz, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 46 x 36 x 0.1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 14.2 x 0 inch

€600

Painting, Butterfly, Karo Trass

Karo Trass

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

€120

Sculpture, Ce monde me renverse, Michadu

Michadu

Sculpture . 41 x 50 x 20 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 19.7 x 7.9 inch

€1,400

Painting, Capucines, Claude Cruz

Claude Cruz

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

€700

Sculpture, Sweet Love, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

Sculpture . 21 x 50 x 20 cm Sculpture . 8.3 x 19.7 x 7.9 inch

€230

Sculpture, Sweet Apple, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

Sculpture . 29 x 29 x 33 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 11.4 x 13 inch

€530

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, François Chapuis

François Chapuis

Fine Art Drawings . 48 x 32.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.9 x 12.8 x 0.1 inch

€2,200

Sculpture, Abstraction Orange, Costa

Costa

Sculpture . 30 x 40 x 4 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,600

Painting, The demon, Jack The Killer

Jack The Killer

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

€50

Painting, Brûlage, Jacques Volpi

Jacques Volpi

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

€840

Painting, Paris Subway Map II, Piotre

Piotre

Painting . 40 x 47.6 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.75 x 18.75 x 0.1 inch

€900

Painting, SOON SPRING, Bruno Cantais

Bruno Cantais

Painting . 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€220 €198

Sculpture, Banana Satisfaction, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

Sculpture . 26 x 26 x 6 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 10.2 x 2.4 inch

€300

Painting, Inner Turmoil, Asma Namouji

Asma Namouji

Painting . 50 x 50 x 5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€900

Painting, Brut, Jazzu

Jazzu

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

€400

Sculpture, A Giraffe, PickWick

PickWick

Sculpture . 31 x 11 x 4 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 4.3 x 1.6 inch

€300

Sculpture, XOXO, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

Sculpture . 40 x 28 x 16 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 11 x 6.3 inch

€440

Painting, African Woman, Dragana Adamov

Dragana Adamov

Painting . 45 x 34.5 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.6 x 0.8 inch

€280

Painting, A Rainy Night, Vahe Bagumyan

Vahe Bagumyan

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

€288

Print, Sans titre, Wxyz

Wxyz

Print . 30 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 11.8 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€130

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