Small art is in.

Written By Kate Horswill

Artsy, leading global online art marketplace, reported 40% of all purchases in 2025 were works under 40 square inches. Purchases of “miniature and small-scale paintings” were up 66%. People want smaller. Why? Smaller pieces let buyers collect real artist-signed canvases at a more affordable price. Smaller pieces act as an entry point for new buyers, opening up a new audience pool for artists.

Popular small art formats include:

  • Miniature canvases + panels: Compact pieces designed for the desk or tight gallery walls.

  • Small handmade collages: Mixed-media paper cutouts and small textile fragments that highlight the artist's physical touch.

  • Intimate ceramics + sculptures: Small, tactile objects focusing on rawness, irregularities and organic shapes.

So what does this mean for artists? An opportunity if not anything else. Create smaller pieces. Incorporate some small pieces as part of your next series, create a miniature edition of each big piece, or create a miniature-only series. 


Offering smaller pieces are likely to open you up to new buyers that could purchase more in the future.

Kate Horswill