> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/al-held · updated 2026-11-02

# Al Held (1928–2005)

## What is Al Held’s work worth? {#value}

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.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | 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 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 35 | $25,580 |
| Other | 11 | $14,000 |
| Works on paper | 43 | $11,250 |
| Prints | 74 | $1,632 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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).

- [Al Held on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/al-held?ref=kg:al-held) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Al Held auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/al-held (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.