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
Photography, Solitude, Fabien Strauss

Fabien Strauss

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

CHF 246

Painting, Wind of Love, Lee Yu Min

Lee Yu Min

Painting . 35 x 47 x 4 cm Painting . 13.8 x 18.5 x 1.6 inch

CHF 389

Painting, Café de Paris, David Jamin

David Jamin

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

CHF 1,166

Painting, Insiemi 1, Dores Sacquegna

Dores Sacquegna

Painting . 21 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 340

Sculpture, Midi, Egor Plotnikov

Egor Plotnikov

Sculpture . 13 x 30 x 20 cm Sculpture . 5.1 x 11.8 x 7.9 inch

CHF 874

Painting, Paule, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting . 29.7 x 21 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 inch

CHF 144

Photography, #3, Chloé Laval

#3

Chloé Laval

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

CHF 126

Painting, Sea walk, Natalya Mougenot

Natalya Mougenot

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

CHF 437

Fine Art Drawings, Messenger, Nino Devdariani

Nino Devdariani

Fine Art Drawings . 25 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

CHF 2,915

Print, Pool Party, Maxine Gregson

Maxine Gregson

Print . 29.7 x 21 x 0.05 cm Print . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

CHF 272

Photography, Pola Molitor, Gil Rigoulet

Gil Rigoulet

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.02 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 1,943

Fine Art Drawings, Rétro, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

CHF 131

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 inch

CHF 890

Painting, Basel, Albert Alís

Albert Alís

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

CHF 364

Painting, Illusion, Robert Inestroza

Robert Inestroza

Painting . 36 x 28 x 2 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11 x 0.8 inch

CHF 486

Painting, Venise !, Noël Granger

Noël Granger

Painting . 21 x 29 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.4 x 0 inch

CHF 117

Painting, Reflexe, BEHOA

BEHOA

Painting . 30 x 20 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 2 inch

CHF 632

Painting, Waiting, Ivan T.

Ivan T.

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

CHF 631

Fine Art Drawings, JB-08, Jean Bellus

Jean Bellus

Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0 inch

CHF 340

Photography, Busy Street, 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

Fine Art Drawings, A company, Anna Wardega

Anna Wardega

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 inch

CHF 194

Photography, Haiti Holiday, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

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

CHF 3,036

Photography, State Line, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

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

CHF 3,036

Photography, Capri Holiday, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

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

CHF 3,036

Fine Art Drawings, Petite fille, Mariette Lydis

Mariette Lydis

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 25 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.8 inch

CHF 486

Painting, Quiet happiness, Irina Bast

Irina Bast

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

CHF 614

Painting, Pop vs Lydi N°18/20, Lydi

Lydi

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

CHF 185

Painting, Pop vs Lydi N°14/20, Lydi

Lydi

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

CHF 185