Al Held (1928–2005)
What is Al Held’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 186 auction results for Al Held at 20 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,920 including buyer’s premium (middle half $957–$9,489, n=23). The auction record is $312,500 for Compass Rose (2019, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Compass Rose, 1974 | Acrylic paint | $312,500 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 2 | Phoenicia VII, 1969 | Acrylic paint | $273,648 | Sotheby's | Mar 2026 |
| 3 | MO-T#4 | Acrylic on canvas | $200,000 | Sotheby's | Mar 2016 |
| 4 | Untitled (acrylic on canvas), 1972 | Acrylic paint | $138,600 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 5 | Black/White XVIII, 1968 | Acrylic on canvas | $90,720 | Sotheby's | Nov 2022 |
| 6 | Little A, 1966 | Acrylic paint | $76,200 | Christie's | Feb 2026 |
| 7 | Thalassa Circled III, 1983 | Acrylic | $75,975 | Bonhams | May 2022 |
| 8 | B/W XVIII, 1968 | Acrylic paint | $75,000 | Christie's | Nov 2013 |
| 9 | Roberta's Trip, 1985, 1928 | Acrylic on canvas | $72,813 | Bonhams | Feb 2021 |
| 10 | P-P | — | $57,600 | Sotheby's | Feb 2007 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 35 | $25,580 |
| Other | 11 | $14,000 |
| Works on paper | 43 | $11,250 |
| Prints | 74 | $1,632 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 20 | $53,460 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $6,875 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 126 | $4,284 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 186 results from 20 houses · How we compute these figures
Al Held is an American artist with 238 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $6,875. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Al Held sold in 2026 for $7,680, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Al Held work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Al Held free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Al Held record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Al Held on OpeningBid →What is a Al Held work worth?
Across 185 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Al Held work is $6,875.
The median Al Held print sells for $1,562 across 72 lots.
The median Al Held work on paper sells for $10,312 across 50 lots.
The median Al Held painting sells for $25,147 across 39 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Al Held prints typically sell for $960–$2,000 (the middle half of 65 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Al Held work on papers typically sell for $7,842–$21,250 (the middle half of 43 sold lots).
Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 91 | $1,562† | $10,625 | 79.1% | 2026-09-17 |
| Paintings | 43 | $25,147†‡ | $312,500 | 90.7% | 2026-09-23 |
| Works on Paper | 55 | $10,312† | $40,320 | 90.9% | 2024-07-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 10 | $83,460 | $312,500 | — | 2026-03-05 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Al Held's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (91 lots) median $1,562 with 79.1% sell-through. Paintings (43 lots) median $25,147, record $312,500. A typical Al Held painting sells for around 16× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 10 lots) the median is $83,460.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 65 | $960–$2,000† | $1,500† | $10,625 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $10,179–$25,509‡ | $18,825‡ | $90,720 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 17 | $40,000–$76,200† | $56,250† | $312,500 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 43 | $7,842–$21,250† | $10,709† | $40,320 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2019 | $312,500 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $273,648 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $40,320 |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $35,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $10,625 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $10,625 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Al Held worth?
Across 185 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Al Held work is $6,875. The median Al Held print sells for $1,562 across 72 lots. The median Al Held work on paper sells for $10,312 across 50 lots. The median Al Held painting sells for $25,147 across 39 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Al Held prints typically sell for $960–$2,000 (the middle half of 65 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Al Held work on papers typically sell for $7,842–$21,250 (the middle half of 43 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a Al Held print?
Based on 72 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Al Held print is $1,562. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Al Held's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Al Held print is $10,625.
What is the average price of a Al Held work on paper?
Based on 50 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Al Held work on paper is $10,312. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Al Held's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Al Held work on paper is $40,320.
What is the average price of a Al Held painting?
Based on 39 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Al Held painting is $25,147. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Al Held's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Al Held painting is $312,500.
What is the average price of a medium Al Held print?
Based on 65 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Al Held print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,500, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a medium Al Held work on paper?
Based on 43 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Al Held work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $10,709, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Al Held's auction record?
Al Held's auction record is $312,500, set in 2019.
See the full Al Held record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Al Held on OpeningBid →