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Art Machine Pöllau - art from the vending machine

In 2016, a restored vintage cigarette vending machine became the Art Machine - an art machine. It was designed by the artist collective "Das Voyeur”. Here it is possible to buy signed works of art around the clock in a small format the size of a cigarette packet.

What's inside the Art Machine?

Original works of art by recognized artists, for example

• Small paintings
• Ceramics
• Prints
• Photographs
• Jewelry objects
• Texts and even music

Each box contains a leaflet with information about the work and artist.

How it works: 

Simply insert 2 x 2 euro coins and draw a unique work of art - the selection remains a surprise!

Every year there are new art editions, which are presented at a vernissage with the artists.

Location: Pöllauer Hauptplatz, Styria

Let yourself be surprised & collect original art in miniature format! 

Art for rural areas: The Art Machine in Eastern Styria

There is often little access to contemporary art in rural regions. This is precisely where the Art Machine by Styrian Summer Art comes in: an art machine in Pöllau makes high-quality miniature works of art accessible around the clock. The idea originated in Germany and was brought to Austria in 2015 by art and organic farmer Carmen Dreier-Zwetti from Pöllau.

The vending machine offers regional and national artists a platform to present their works to a wide audience - including many vacation guests. For just four euros, art lovers receive a small original. Some of the small works of art have led to visits to the artists' studios.

Despite the low level of compensation, artists participate with often elaborate and extremely original art miniatures and show impressive solutions for the small format of 80 x 50 x 18 mm. The challenge is to create a coherent work for the limited space. The miniature works of art stand up to other works and never cease to amaze us.

The Art Machine creates art enjoyment in the countryside and brings art directly to the people - simple, innovative and inspiring.

Miniature art: history, meaning and well-known examples

The term miniature originally comes from medieval book illumination. It refers to works of art in a small format. On the one hand, painting on book pages, on the other hand, art on small objects such as medallions, pillboxes or caskets.

An outstanding example is the Tansey miniature collection in the Bomann Museum in Celle, one of the most important collections of European miniature painting with works from the late 16th to the early 20th century.

In sculpture, there is a related form, the small sculpture, which is not directly considered a miniature. A well-known event in this area is the Triennale Kleinplastik Fellbach in Germany.

The term miniature is particularly common in arts and crafts and decorative accessories. Typical examples are elaborately designed doll's houses, detailed models of vehicles and ships, as well as artistic relic paintings and monastic works from religious contexts.

Miniature art fascinates with its attention to detail and variety.

Reports

Bericht Kleine Zeitung (September 2022)

The new, tenth series of miniatures is in preparation.this time the works come from Daniela Brasil, Anatol Gietler, Veronica Pollauf, Margo Sarkisova, Catrin Manoli and Dunja Krcek. We present artists and works on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. on the main square in Pöllau.

opening hours of the Art Machine: Mon - Sun 00:00 - 24:00

If you have any problems, please call 0676 36 00 571 or send us an email.

peter.brandl(at)styriansummer.at