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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Print, Naki babaÏ, Didier Hamey

Didier Hamey

Print - 32 x 28 x 0.2 cm Print - 12.6 x 11 x 0.1 inch

CHF 290

Print, Akki, Didier Hamey

Didier Hamey

Print - 32 x 28 cm Print - 12.6 x 11 inch

CHF 386

Photography, Runaway, Dasha Pears

Dasha Pears

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 753

Painting, Colors Inside, Angelo Pioppo

Angelo Pioppo

Painting - 42 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Painting - 16.5 x 11.6 x 0 inch

CHF 762

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Dominique Liccia

Dominique Liccia

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 inch

CHF 405

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Dominique Liccia

Dominique Liccia

Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 inch

CHF 405

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 16, Denis Poughon

Denis Poughon

Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 13 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 5.1 x 0.5 inch

CHF 338

Painting, The Idol, Ciprian Mihailescu

Ciprian Mihailescu

Painting - 30.5 x 30.5 x 4 cm Painting - 12 x 12 x 1.6 inch

CHF 965 CHF 869

Painting, City Break, Ciprian Mihailescu

Ciprian Mihailescu

Painting - 30.5 x 30.5 x 4 cm Painting - 12 x 12 x 1.6 inch

CHF 965 CHF 869

Fine Art Drawings, Insulaire, Marcoleptique

Marcoleptique

Fine Art Drawings - 34 x 23 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.4 x 9.1 inch

CHF 386

Fine Art Drawings, L'homme Pieuvre, Valérie Abadie

Valérie Abadie

Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.1 x 10.2 x 0 inch

CHF 772

Print, 5th Dimension, Cajuca

Cajuca

Print - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Print - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

CHF 330

Sculpture, Petrified, Oshi Rabin

Oshi Rabin

Sculpture - 29.2 x 50.8 x 19.1 cm Sculpture - 11.5 x 20 x 7.5 inch

CHF 6,600

Print, Bicephalous, Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali

Print - 39 x 27.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 15.4 x 10.8 x 0 inch

CHF 2,123

Print, Blanchefleur, Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali

Print - 45 x 31 x 0.1 cm Print - 17.7 x 12.2 x 0 inch

CHF 1,158

Print, Bicephale, Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali

Print - 38.5 x 29 x 0.1 cm Print - 15.2 x 11.4 x 0 inch

CHF 2,413

Photography, Skyward, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 2,316

Painting, La Terre Promise V, Artur

Artur

Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

CHF 772

Painting, Gelede, Rocio Mazuecos

Rocio Mazuecos

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

CHF 700

Print, Histoire d'O, Leonor Fini

Leonor Fini

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.05 cm Print - 15 x 11 x 0 inch

CHF 627

Painting, Artist, Alexandra Papafotiou

Alexandra Papafotiou

Painting - 45 x 45 x 1.5 cm Painting - 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.6 inch

CHF 1,062

Photography, Removing Petals, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 2,316

Photography, Moth, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 2,316

Painting, Wanderers, Daniil Litvinov

Daniil Litvinov

Painting - 21 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 217

Fine Art Drawings, Erotic Scene, Mino Maccari

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 20.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 8.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 656

Painting, Moon, Oleg Litvinov

Oleg Litvinov

Painting - 42 x 18 x 2 cm Painting - 16.5 x 7.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 352

Painting, Apotheosis, Oleg Litvinov

Oleg Litvinov

Painting - 44.5 x 32.5 x 2 cm Painting - 17.5 x 12.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 401

Painting, Homme taureau, Capton

Capton

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inch

CHF 531

Painting, MESSAGERS III, Capton

Capton

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inch

CHF 531

Painting, Summer Sky, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

CHF 241

Photography, Push and Pull, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 2,413

Photography, Catharsis, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 2,316

Painting, Avalon, Mina Mond

Mina Mond

Painting - 35 x 34 x 0.8 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.4 x 0.3 inch

CHF 386

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