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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Édition Toujours Marilyn 50 RED
Miguel Guía
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
CHF 681
Welcome to the colorful side
Bernard Saint-Maxent
Painting - 50 x 50 x 6 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 2.4 inch
CHF 1,460
Bear CD Tribute, Blue Collar
Naor
Sculpture - 30 x 20 x 9 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.9 x 3.5 inch
CHF 1,119
Open Window with Butterflies
David Gerstein
Sculpture - 49 x 39 x 5 cm Sculpture - 19.3 x 15.4 x 2 inch
CHF 2,433
La cage où les gens pleurent
Sandra Chevrier
Sculpture - 30 x 22 x 17 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 8.7 x 6.7 inch
CHF 1,606
Serigraphie I (rehaussée à la main/hand-embellished)
Piotre
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
CHF 779
Le liquide Bleu
Yannick Bouillault
Sculpture - 44 x 17 x 17 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 6.7 x 6.7 inch
CHF 779
One dollar green hope
Karl Lagasse
Sculpture - 16.5 x 38 x 7 cm Sculpture - 6.5 x 15 x 2.8 inch
CHF 2,433 CHF 2,190
Gacko bear love pop art Porsche
André Gacko
Sculpture - 27 x 26 x 21 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 10.2 x 8.3 inch
CHF 1,256
USA Code Barre Steve McQueen Sport 3
Elmago
Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
CHF 1,256
One Dollar in my Red Canvas
Karl Lagasse
Print - 30 x 20 x 0.3 cm Print - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch
CHF 613
I got ingot...To resell in 2030
Marie Serruya
Sculpture - 48 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
CHF 2,336
Garçon au ballon
Seth
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 24 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch
CHF 681 CHF 545
Wild Flowers (Edition Vieillie)
Toctoc
Print - 42 x 29.7 x 0.01 cm Print - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
CHF 535 CHF 509
Sans titre (no comment)
Francky Boy
Painting - 33 x 24 x 2 cm Painting - 13 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch
CHF 584
Gants de boxe (Red-heart red-violet)
Nick Walker
Sculpture - 30 x 12.5 x 3 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 4.9 x 1.2 inch
CHF 1,363
Just Coco - Butterflies
Géraldine G.
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
CHF 2,051
Beretta in Crayons(5)
Luke Newton
Sculpture - 31 x 39 x 6 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 15.4 x 2.4 inch
CHF 4,380
Émergence lumineuse
Alexandre Moore Rockefeller
Painting - 47 x 36 x 0.6 cm Painting - 18.5 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch
CHF 633
Lil Heroes #3493 (Unique with drawing)
Edgar Plans
Print - 35 x 35 cm Print - 13.8 x 13.8 inch
CHF 1,739
Turtle Rolls-Royce
Diederik Van Apple
Sculpture - 25 x 40 x 25 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 15.7 x 9.8 inch
CHF 1,367
Pop Art Communication x Haring x 24/7 (yellow)
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
CHF 219
Balloon Rabbit (Violet)
Jeff Koons
Sculpture - 29 x 14 x 21 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 5.5 x 8.3 inch
CHF 17,034
The saxophonist from the Star Wars bar
Daniil Danailov
Sculpture - 38 x 25.5 x 25.5 cm Sculpture - 15 x 10 x 10 inch
CHF 633
Takashi Murakami × ComplexCon Mr.DOB Figure by Bait × Switch Collectibles (Gold Edition)
Takashi Murakami
Sculpture - 27.4 x 23.5 x 23.5 cm Sculpture - 10.8 x 9.3 x 9.3 inch
CHF 4,867
A Lovely Serenade Of Summer
Yasna Godovanik
Sculpture - 48 x 48 x 0.5 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 18.9 x 0.2 inch
CHF 1,217
Kira (Burnished Gold)
Roby Dwi Antono
Sculpture - 31 x 26 x 23 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 10.2 x 9.1 inch
CHF 9,501
The Future god
Jorn Van Hoorn
Sculpture - 40 x 27 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 10.6 x 7.9 inch
CHF 5,354
Végas pop art star wars
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 45 x 30 x 45 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 11.8 x 17.7 inch
CHF 954
Fast-Food Dior
Nicolas Krauss
Sculpture - 27 x 20 x 23 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 7.9 x 9.1 inch
CHF 2,336
Lumière noire
Jacques Villeglé
Sculpture - 29.2 x 14.5 x 14.5 cm Sculpture - 11.5 x 5.7 x 5.7 inch
CHF 9,247
Paris Kapitale MissTic Paella
Miss.Tic
Design - 46 x 33 x 0.01 cm Design - 18.1 x 13 x 0 inch
CHF 633
"Mountain sunset" - series Denia
Volodymyr Gluhomanyuk
Painting - 25 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 9.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
CHF 526
We All Make the Flowers Grow III (White)
Josh Sperling
Design - 35 x 42 x 8.9 cm Design - 13.8 x 16.5 x 3.5 inch
CHF 2,313
Mickey spread Art - What Party
Ske
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
CHF 477
Babolex Snoop Dogg
Vincent Faudemer
Sculpture - 30 x 20 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch
CHF 1,849 CHF 1,664
