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, Atomic Bardot, Batik

Batik

Print . 50.8 x 50.8 x 0 cm Print . 20 x 20 x 0.01 inch

CHF 899

Photography, Gate 1, Nicholas Winter

Nicholas Winter

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

CHF 952

Print, Concept #3, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

CHF 311

Photography, S'Agaró, Arantza NT

Arantza NT

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

CHF 187

Photography, Escape, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 588

Photography, Arcoíris, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 32.3 x 43.1 x 0.1 cm Photography . 12.7 x 17 x 0 inch

CHF 1,553

Print, Magic Yayoi, Marie Serruya

Marie Serruya

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

CHF 339

Print, Magic Kim, Marie Serruya

Marie Serruya

Print . 33 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 13 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 242

Photography, Street 3, Nicholas Winter

Nicholas Winter

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

CHF 952

Print, Phases, Cajuca

Cajuca

Print . 42 x 29.7 x 0.3 cm Print . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 133

Photography, Solo dance, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

CHF 777

Photography, Bored Duck, Greg Mascot

Greg Mascot

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

CHF 194

Photography, Iles Chausey, Kyoto, Mirei

Mirei

Photography . 20 x 27 cm Photography . 7.9 x 10.6 inch

CHF 340

Photography, Tulipes, Anne-Marie Toporkoff

Anne-Marie Toporkoff

Photography . 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 884

Photography, L'attente, Bertrand Desprez

Bertrand Desprez

Photography . 40 x 48 cm Photography . 15.7 x 18.9 inch

CHF 632

Photography, L'ombre est là (M), Streety

Streety

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

CHF 340

Photography, Soeurs, Juliette Royer

Juliette Royer

Photography . 31.9 x 20.5 x 0.5 cm Photography . 12.6 x 8.1 x 0.2 inch

CHF 107

Photography, Lunar, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

CHF 1,214

Photography, The Souk of Marrakech, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 26.7 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.5 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 967

Photography, House 15, Nicholas Winter

Nicholas Winter

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

CHF 952

Photography, Night fever, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 27.1 x 18.1 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.7 x 7.1 x 0 inch

CHF 1,262

Photography, St Lazare #05, Bogdan Kotewicz

Bogdan Kotewicz

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 797

Photography, Time, fleating, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

CHF 777

Photography, Blanchiment, J.Léo

J.Léo

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

CHF 2,429

Print, Les somnambules, Carlitho

Carlitho

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

CHF 146

Photography, Le Volleyeur, Julie Peiffer

Julie Peiffer

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.04 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 583

Photography, Cityscapes I, Mark Elst

Mark Elst

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

CHF 340

Photography, Arabesque, Gina Soden

Gina Soden

Photography . 44.64 x 44.64 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.6 x 17.6 x 0 inch

CHF 1,418

Photography, Pivoines, Anne-Marie Toporkoff

Anne-Marie Toporkoff

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 913

Photography, L'ombre est là (S), Streety

Streety

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

CHF 243

Photography, Porcelain Hand, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 46 x 46 x 0.2 cm Photography . 18.1 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 500

Photography, Glitter Winter, Arantza NT

Arantza NT

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

CHF 187

Photography, Equilibre, Alexis Duclos

Alexis Duclos

Photography . 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 661

Print, C rose, Christine Colin

Christine Colin

Print . 49 x 38 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.3 x 15 x 0 inch

CHF 291

Photography, Trees, Nicholas Winter

Nicholas Winter

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

CHF 952

Photography, Luna Park, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 35.1 x 27.1 x 0.1 cm Photography . 13.8 x 10.7 x 0 inch

CHF 1,553

Photography, Kintsugi V, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

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

CHF 389

Photography, Path to the Sea, Arantza NT

Arantza NT

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

CHF 187

Photography, Angry bird, Nicolas Issaly

Nicolas Issaly

Photography . 30 x 45 x 3 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,205

Photography, Paris Sportif, Alexander Benz

Alexander Benz

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

CHF 447

Photography, Curb, Nicholas Winter

Nicholas Winter

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

CHF 952

Photography, Hotel Europe, Jonathan Dy

Jonathan Dy

Photography . 20 x 26.57 cm Photography . 7.9 x 10.5 inch

CHF 243

Photography, Love is a river, Benoit Ruff

Benoit Ruff

Photography . 42 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Photography . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 777

Photography, Where time stops (M), Streety

Streety

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

CHF 340

Photography, Vacances, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 604

Photography, Sentinel, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 556

Photography, Where time stops (S), Streety

Streety

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

CHF 243

Photography, Golden summer 2, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 23.3 x 33.9 x 0.1 cm Photography . 9.2 x 13.3 x 0 inch

CHF 679

Photography, J'oublie tout, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 33.9 x 23.3 x 0.1 cm Photography . 13.3 x 9.2 x 0 inch

CHF 679

Photography, Vintage car, Noa Grayevsky

Noa Grayevsky

Photography . 35.75 x 43.35 x 0.5 cm Photography . 14.1 x 17.1 x 0.2 inch

CHF 1,457