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…

Read more
Painting, Apples, Kalya Zografova

Kalya Zografova

Painting . 40 x 50 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

€900

Painting, Ocres Rouges, Eurgal

Eurgal

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

€1,200

Painting, Black water, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,600

Painting, L'attente, Marta Grassi

Marta Grassi

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

€900

Painting, Montmartre, Jacques Robert

Jacques Robert

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Bord, Fabien Delaube

Fabien Delaube

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

€1,200

Painting, Untitled, Kim En Joong

Kim En Joong

Painting . 24 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€3,200

Painting, Sans titre, Matthieu Dorval

Matthieu Dorval

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

€1,200

Painting, Rose - 964, Aykaz Arzumanyan

Aykaz Arzumanyan

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

€860

Painting, Apples 28, Rafal Gadowski

Rafal Gadowski

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

€1,100

Painting, Porte Rotonde, Kardesch

Kardesch

Painting . 41 x 27 cm Painting . 16.1 x 10.6 inch

€900

Painting, Schisme #4, Erwann Tirilly

Erwann Tirilly

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

€2,800

Painting, Friendship, Kateryna Bukuros

Kateryna Bukuros

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

€395

Painting, Ladybug love, Marlene Llanes

Marlene Llanes

Painting . 40.6 x 40.6 x 2 cm Painting . 16 x 16 x 0.8 inch

€858

Painting, Sunset, David Walker

David Walker

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

€1,021

Painting, 2 Butterflies, Hunt Slonem

Hunt Slonem

Painting . 25.4 x 20.3 x 2 cm Painting . 10 x 8 x 0.8 inch

€7,000

Painting, River, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€249

Painting, Bitch 1, Nolwenn Samson

Nolwenn Samson

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

€1,200

Painting, Landscape, Areg Vahramyan

Areg Vahramyan

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

€1,500

Painting, Sunlit Lemons, Stepan Ohanyan

Stepan Ohanyan

Painting . 50 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€363 €309

Painting, Toi et moi, Eurgal

Eurgal

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Red bird, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

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, Ride or Die, Anya Spielman

Anya Spielman

Painting . 35.5 x 28 cm Painting . 14 x 11 inch

€2,762

Painting, #1179, Arvid Boecker

Arvid Boecker

Painting . 50 x 40 x 5.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 2.2 inch

€2,942

Painting, Cycle Over, Gregg Smith

Gregg Smith

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

€900

Painting, Cheek to Cheek, Armen Vahramyan

Armen Vahramyan

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

€1,225 €980

Painting, Eclaboussures, Pier

Pier

Painting . 44 x 46 x 2 cm Painting . 17.3 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

€1,600

1/100