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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Photography, Paris, Marc Riboud

Marc Riboud

Photography . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 5,829

Print, Huts, Pierre Boncompain

Pierre Boncompain

Print . 31 x 38.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 12.2 x 15.2 x 0 inch

CHF 194

Photography, El Dandy, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

Photography . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,474

Photography, House in Mud, Santiago Sierra

Santiago Sierra

Photography . 21 x 30 x 1.5 cm Photography . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

CHF 4,858

Painting, Estuary 1, Margaret Neill

Margaret Neill

Painting . 46 x 46 cm Painting . 18.1 x 18.1 inch

CHF 2,300

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Chen Zhen

Chen Zhen

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 25 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 9.8 inch

CHF 5,829

Photography, Untitled, Claudio Abate

Claudio Abate

Photography . 40 x 29 x 0.01 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.4 x 0 inch

CHF 17,488

Photography, Madonna, Kristina Trudorudo

Kristina Trudorudo

Photography . 35 x 27.5 x 0.3 cm Photography . 13.8 x 10.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 583

Print, Venice, Giovanni Korompay

Giovanni Korompay

Print . 50 x 35.5 x 0.2 cm Print . 19.7 x 14 x 0.1 inch

CHF 632

Photography, Iceland Poppy, Mark Arbeit

Mark Arbeit

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

CHF 1,958

Photography, Memories IV, Victoria Dearing

Victoria Dearing

Photography . 27.5 x 44.5 x 0.3 cm Photography . 10.8 x 17.5 x 0.1 inch

CHF 874

Photography, Pivoine, Dimitri Roubichou

Dimitri Roubichou

Photography . 30 x 30 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

CHF 389

Photography, 4 monkeys, Samuel Cueto

Samuel Cueto

Photography . 40 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 777

Photography, Cedric, Robert Mapplethorpe

Robert Mapplethorpe

Photography . 35.5 x 35.5 x 1 cm Photography . 14 x 14 x 0.4 inch

CHF 26,232

Photography, Sans 3, Lucien Hervé

Lucien Hervé

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

CHF 2,915

Print, Âne, Guillaume Piot

Guillaume Piot

Print . 42 x 30 cm Print . 16.5 x 11.8 inch

CHF 87

Photography, Life, Christophe Battifero

Christophe Battifero

Photography . 40 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 398

Photography, Brian Jones, John Rowlands

John Rowlands

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography . 20 x 16 x 2 inch

CHF 1,202

Photography, Angry Dockers, Arthur Steel

Arthur Steel

Photography . 33 x 41 x 1 cm Photography . 13 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch

CHF 870

Photography, Last London Bus, Bert Hardy

Bert Hardy

Photography . 31 x 41 x 0.01 cm Photography . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

CHF 1,069

Photography, Dont Walk, Karol Kállay

Karol Kállay

Photography . 30 x 30 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

CHF 1,069

Photography, Nun, Alain Daussin

Nun

Alain Daussin

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

CHF 1,924

Photography, Tracks V, Bruno Charoy

Bruno Charoy

Photography . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 777

Photography, Untitled #29, Josef Nadj

Josef Nadj

Photography . 30 x 25 cm Photography . 11.8 x 9.8 inch

CHF 1,069

Photography, Birds, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

CHF 233

Print, Bivalva, LN Le Cheviller

LN Le Cheviller

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

CHF 126

Photography, Alice Cooper, Ron Galella

Ron Galella

Photography . 35.6 x 27.9 cm Photography . 14 x 11 inch

CHF 3,115

Photography, Los Tangueros, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

Photography . 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 701

Photography, Couple Embrace, Tony Potts

Tony Potts

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography . 20 x 16 inch

CHF 1,690

Photography, Eternal sleeping, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,360

Photography, E.M.A, Renaud Monfourny

Renaud Monfourny

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

CHF 1,457

Photography, Loops 1, Tenesh Webber

Tenesh Webber

Photography . 28 x 28 cm Photography . 11 x 11 inch

CHF 2,370

Photography, Intervals 1., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Photography . 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 311