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, Cloudy Day, Eter Merkviladze

Eter Merkviladze

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

CHF 728

Painting, Sea town 2, Benavente Solis

Benavente Solis

Painting . 33 x 23 x 1 cm Painting . 13 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,747

Print, City, Mr.Tris

Mr.Tris

Print . 24 x 36 x 0.2 cm Print . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch

CHF 116

Fine Art Drawings, Place des Vosges, Pascal Plazanet

Pascal Plazanet

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 36 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 14.2 x 0 inch

CHF 1,844

Sculpture, Visa-vie, Fanjol

Fanjol

Sculpture . 28 x 14 x 14 cm Sculpture . 11 x 5.5 x 5.5 inch

CHF 5,338

Painting, Downtown, Darren Thompson

Darren Thompson

Painting . 30.5 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 2 inch

CHF 1,289

Painting, Graceland, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 40.3 x 40.3 x 0.4 cm Painting . 15.9 x 15.9 x 0.2 inch

CHF 995

Painting, Imbrications, Sophie Hors

Sophie Hors

Painting . 47 x 37 x 3 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14.6 x 1.2 inch

CHF 786

Photography, Austin Road, Nathaniel Foster

Nathaniel Foster

Photography . 45 x 30 x 2 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,135

Painting, Golden Corner, Narek Qochunc

Narek Qochunc

Painting . 24 x 31 x 0.2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 12.2 x 0.1 inch

CHF 312

Painting, Oxford, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 24 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,718

Sculpture, Unis vers, Fanjol

Fanjol

Sculpture . 43 x 18 x 18 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 7.1 x 7.1 inch

CHF 6,309

Fine Art Drawings, Dark City, Simon Goldberg

Simon Goldberg

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 21 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

CHF 340

Photography, 135 Méga-Jul #7, Samzaï

Samzaï

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.5 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.2 inch

CHF 160

Photography, Averse, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

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

CHF 155

Photography, Brooklyn Bridge, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 35.6 x 23.7 x 0.1 cm Photography . 14 x 9.3 x 0 inch

CHF 1,552

Painting, Split Shadow, David Walker

David Walker

Painting . 35 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,061

Painting, Freedom, Helen Spoon

Helen Spoon

Painting . 50 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,600

Painting, Pont Wilson, Paul Ward

Paul Ward

Painting . 40.6 x 30 x 5.1 cm Painting . 16 x 11.8 x 2 inch

CHF 1,894

Fine Art Drawings, Daily Life, Kate Wilczynski

Kate Wilczynski

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 582

Painting, La Dolce, Richard Poumelin

Richard Poumelin

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

CHF 1,116

Painting, La vie en couleurs, KLO

KLO

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

CHF 116

Painting, Going home, Veronica Schmitt

Veronica Schmitt

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

CHF 485

Print, Silence, Tetiana Ocheredko

Tetiana Ocheredko

Print . 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Print . 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

CHF 355

Painting, On the bridge, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

CHF 1,553

Painting, Biot, Alfred Ziethlow

Alfred Ziethlow

Painting . 36 x 48 x 0.2 cm Painting . 14.2 x 18.9 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,815

Painting, Naples, Alexandre Garbell

Alexandre Garbell

Painting . 42 x 22 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16.5 x 8.7 x 0.2 inch

CHF 1,844

Painting, February, Oleg Litvinov

Oleg Litvinov

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

CHF 582