Collecting Original Art on a Budget? Artworks Under $500 from “The Art of Small Works”
Collecting original art does not always have to begin with a huge budget or a long list of established names. Sometimes, it starts with a small work that catches your eye, stays in your mind, and makes you want to live with it.
For collectors who are still building their collections, smaller works can be a lovely place to begin. They can bring an artist’s perspective into your home without requiring a major investment, while also giving you the chance to discover artists whose work you may not have encountered before.
With that in mind, The Art of Small Works brings together a selection of original artworks that are intimate in scale but varied in style, medium, and story. And if you have been thinking about adding an original work to your collection, this exhibition offers plenty to explore.
Introducing The Art Of Small Works
Presented by Arts to Hearts Project in collaboration with Artsy, The Art of Small Works is an exhibition celebrating the possibilities of art in a smaller format. On view from September 21 through October 21, 2026, the exhibition brings together 43 original works by 43 artists, offering collectors an opportunity to discover different artistic voices within one thoughtfully curated presentation.
From paintings and works on paper to mixed media, collage, cyanotype, and found objects, the exhibition shows just how much can happen within a smaller canvas or surface. Each work has its own character, making the exhibition an inviting place to browse whether you are an experienced collector or simply beginning to think about bringing original art into your home.
And the best part? Building an art collection does not have to break the bank. If you have been looking for an original work at a more accessible price point, we have selected 11 artworks from The Art of Small Works, each priced at less than $500. From intimate drawings and delicate watercolors to expressive paintings and tactile mixed media pieces, these works offer a chance to collect something original while discovering artists from the exhibition.
Here are 11 original works to explore.
1. The Kid and her Father, in a social horror story by Nazanin Ghahramani
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 11 4/5 × 9 2/5 in | 30 × 24 cm
Price: US$180
2. Samotnia (Solitude) by Julia Magdalena Kompa
Medium: Oil on cardboard
Dimensions: 30 × 1/5 in | 76.2 × 0.5 cm
Price: US$100
3. Whispers of the Tide by Alisha Thakur
Medium: Acrylics on Canvas
Dimensions: 18 × 18 × 2 in | 45.7 × 45.7 × 5.1 cm
Price: US$349
4. Blue Garden: In Bloom by Charlese Phillips
Medium: Cyanotype, watercolor, ink, fiber, embellishments on canvas
Dimensions: 2 × 7 in | 5.1 × 17.8 cm
Price: US$100
5. Letters from You by Sabine Thornau
Medium: Handmade paper, Shibori paper
Dimensions: 5 9/10 × 5 9/10 × 3 1/2 in | 15 × 15 × 9 cm
Price: US$250
6. Distorted Perception by Kateryna Tkachenko
Medium: Ballpoint Pen on Paper
Dimensions: 3 9/10 × 2 4/5 in | 10 × 7 cm
Price: US$499
7. Timeless Presence by Dr Priya prasath V
Medium: Charcoal on Paper
Dimensions: 6 4/5 in | 0.03 × 17.3 cm
Price: US$295
8. Ligotée by Robin Rivers
Medium: Mixed media collage
Dimensions: 11 × 1/10 in | 27.9 × 0.3 cm
Price: US$350
9. Love, Warm From The Oven by Linda Popp
Medium: Found Objects
Dimensions: 14 × 9 in | 35.6 × 22.9 cm
Price: US$275
10. Harbor Afterglow by Heather Steffey
Medium:Soft pastel
Dimensions: 6 × 4 in | 15.2 × 10.2 cm
Price: US$150
11. Sentinel of the Old Town by Tsvetelina Tsonova
Medium: Watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 8 3/10 × 12 1/5 in | 21 × 31 cm
Price: US$196
A Small Work Can Be A Beautiful Beginning
Building an art collection is not something that has to happen all at once. Sometimes, it begins with one small work that speaks to you, an artist whose practice you want to follow, or a piece that simply feels right for the space you call home. Over time, these individual choices can grow into a collection that feels personal and tells a story about your own relationship with art.
That is part of what makes The Art of Small Works so inviting. The exhibition brings together 43 artists working across different mediums, styles, and perspectives, giving collectors plenty of room to look, discover, and find something that feels meaningful to them. And with works available at different price points, it offers a chance to explore collecting without feeling like you need to make a major investment from the very beginning.
The 11 works featured here are just a starting point. If one has caught your eye, take a moment to explore the full exhibition and discover what else might speak to you. The Art of Small Works is on view through October 21, 2026, so there is still time to wander through the collection, discover a new artist, and perhaps find the first or the next piece for your own collection.
