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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Painting, Untitled, Coll Bardolet

Coll Bardolet

Painting . 25 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,554

Sculpture, El toro crok-crok, Patopalomo

Patopalomo

Sculpture . 30 x 47 x 17 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 18.5 x 6.7 inch

CHF 874

Painting, Imagine, Marie Ange Mory

Marie Ange Mory

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

CHF 4,761

Painting, Fields 9.9, Joëlle Cabanne

Joëlle Cabanne

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 2.5 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 1 inch

CHF 777

Photography, Entre aguas, Tere Duro

Tere Duro

Photography . 50 x 33 cm Photography . 19.7 x 13 inch

CHF 486

Sculpture, Face, Gregos

Gregos

Sculpture . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

CHF 921

Sculpture, Limbes, Lidia Kostanek

Lidia Kostanek

Sculpture . 41 x 30 x 25 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 11.8 x 9.8 inch

CHF 7,384

Painting, Christmas, Esy Beluzzi

Esy Beluzzi

Painting . 24 x 32 x 0.3 cm Painting . 9.4 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 282

Print, Rose Hand, Adrian Falkner

Adrian Falkner

Print . 39 x 29 cm Print . 15.4 x 11.4 inch

CHF 1,123

Painting, Presence, Mariia Panasuk

Mariia Panasuk

Painting . 40 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

CHF 219

Painting, Tomato Soup, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 340

Painting, Paysage breton, René Roche

René Roche

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

CHF 1,749

Sculpture, Transplantation 3, VAM

VAM

Sculpture . 35 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

CHF 1,166

Fine Art Drawings, Non title, Joan Miró

Joan Miró

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 44 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 17.3 x 0.2 inch

CHF 52,463

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 202, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.8 inch

CHF 777

Painting, Backyards, Michael Cameron

Michael Cameron

Painting . 41 x 41 x 4 cm Painting . 16.1 x 16.1 x 1.6 inch

CHF 777

Painting, Sans titre 48, Frappis

Frappis

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

CHF 826

Painting, Jessie, Ksana Krasá

Ksana Krasá

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,235

Print, Untitled, Ian Kuali'i

Ian Kuali'i

Print . 43.18 x 43.18 x 0.02 cm Print . 17 x 17 x 0 inch

CHF 287

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 2,137

Sculpture, Bonsas obelisk, Zlatin Orlov

Zlatin Orlov

Sculpture . 40 x 11 x 11 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 4.3 x 4.3 inch

CHF 826

Painting, Fall Color, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.2 inch

CHF 1,380

Painting, Libération, M. Thomas

M. Thomas

Painting . 45.5 x 36 x 1.5 cm Painting . 17.9 x 14.2 x 0.6 inch

CHF 920

Sculpture, Thistle, Zdenek Tomanek

Zdenek Tomanek

Sculpture . 19 x 27 x 22 cm Sculpture . 7.5 x 10.6 x 8.7 inch

CHF 1,263

Print, Abalé, Eduardo Arroyo

Eduardo Arroyo

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

CHF 194

Painting, Venise, Josselin Bodley

Josselin Bodley

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,080

Sculpture, Silenzio, Irina Shark

Irina Shark

Sculpture . 26 x 30 x 17 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 11.8 x 6.7 inch

CHF 5,149

Print, Untitled, Romain Duris

Romain Duris

Print . 44 x 34 cm Print . 17.3 x 13.4 inch

CHF 340

Print, Spiral, Roberto Crippa

Roberto Crippa

Print . 50 x 35 x 0.2 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 369