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, Endless life, 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, Bolchoi V, Gérard Uféras

Gérard Uféras

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

CHF 1,457

Fine Art Drawings, Jeune femme, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 242 CHF 230

Photography, Gurney Clark, LAT Archives

LAT Archives

Photography . 45 x 45 x 2 cm Photography . 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 573

Photography, Dog Wash, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

CHF 4,272

Painting, Kaki 2, Xiu

Xiu

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

CHF 583

Photography, Serena (3), Corinne Dubreuil

Corinne Dubreuil

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

CHF 826

Photography, Lac des cygnes, Peter Zupnik

Peter Zupnik

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

CHF 1,603

Photography, Intervals 2., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

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

CHF 311

Photography, Vagues et Noir, Regis Duvignau

Regis Duvignau

Photography . 38 x 48 x 1 cm Photography . 15 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,166

Photography, Leonard Cohen, John Rowlands

John Rowlands

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

CHF 1,202

Photography, Super Siesta, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

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

CHF 155

Photography, Companyes, Martí Sala

Martí Sala

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

CHF 680

Photography, Arum Lily #1, Griselda Duch

Griselda Duch

Photography . 32 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography . 12.6 x 17.7 x 0 inch

CHF 696

Photography, Basketball, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

CHF 4,272

Photography, facieS, Louis Blanc

Louis Blanc

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

CHF 1,457

Photography, Untitled #4, Josef Nadj

Josef Nadj

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

CHF 1,069

Photography, El barbudo, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

Photography . 35 x 35 x 1 cm Photography . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,120

Photography, Te veo, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

Photography . 35 x 35 x 1 cm Photography . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 938

Photography, Eclipse, Leandro Franco

Leandro Franco

Photography . 50 x 50 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

CHF 777

Photography, Ballerina IV, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

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

CHF 189

Photography, Comuna 13, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 30 x 24 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

CHF 582

Photography, Equilibre libre, Bze Bzeland

Bze Bzeland

Photography . 48.3 x 32.9 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19 x 13 x 0 inch

CHF 194

Photography, Rose boy, Marcelina Amelia

Marcelina Amelia

Photography . 45.9 x 30.2 cm Photography . 18.1 x 11.9 inch

CHF 534

Photography, Vibration, Andres Romero

Andres Romero

Photography . 30 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 437

Photography, Chasm Lake, Tom Reed

Tom Reed

Photography . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Photography . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

CHF 155

Photography, Dancing, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

CHF 4,272

Photography, Mur 007, Sophie Bassouls

Sophie Bassouls

Photography . 48 x 33 x 1 cm Photography . 18.9 x 13 x 0.4 inch

CHF 729

Photography, Memories III, 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, Moonshine, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

CHF 972

Photography, Clint Eastwood, Aldo Soares

Aldo Soares

Photography . 30 x 24 cm Photography . 11.8 x 9.4 inch

CHF 389

Photography, Brassai, André Villers

André Villers

Photography . 38 x 27 x 1 cm Photography . 15 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch

CHF 874

Photography, Gecko, Stuart Redler

Stuart Redler

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

CHF 1,239