Ansel Adams (1902–1984)
Ansel Adams is an American artist with 500 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $4,481. 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 Ansel Adams sold in 2026 for $6,604, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Ansel Adams record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ansel Adams on OpeningBid →What is a Ansel Adams work worth?
Across 424 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ansel Adams work is $4,481.
The median Ansel Adams photograph sells for $5,200 across 384 lots.
The median Ansel Adams print sells for $325 across 9 lots.
The median Ansel Adams work on paper sells for $1,300 across 5 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Ansel Adams photographs typically sell for $2,555–$22,842 (the middle half of 266 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Ansel Adams photographs typically sell for $2,150–$110,007 (the middle half of 27 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 | 9 | $325†‡ | $39,881 | — | 2024-04-24 |
| Works on Paper | 5 | $1,300 | $2,400 | — | 2025-09-20 |
| Photography | 416 | $5,200†‡ | $404,860 | 92.3% | 2026-09-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 21 | $104,950 | $404,860 | — | 2020-10-01 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $1,100–$2,400 | $1,300 | $2,400 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 266 | $2,555–$22,842†‡ | $7,362†‡ | $277,200 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 27 | $2,150–$110,007†‡ | $21,250†‡ | $404,860 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2008 | $404,860 |
| Photography | 2008 | $310,063 |
| Prints & Editions | 2005 | $39,881 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $32,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2003 | $2,400 |
| Works on Paper | 2003 | $2,400 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Ansel Adams worth?
Across 424 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ansel Adams work is $4,481. The median Ansel Adams photograph sells for $5,200 across 384 lots. The median Ansel Adams print sells for $325 across 9 lots. The median Ansel Adams work on paper sells for $1,300 across 5 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Ansel Adams photographs typically sell for $2,555–$22,842 (the middle half of 266 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Ansel Adams photographs typically sell for $2,150–$110,007 (the middle half of 27 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 Ansel Adams photograph?
Based on 384 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ansel Adams photograph is $5,200. 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 Ansel Adams's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Ansel Adams photograph is $404,860.
What is the average price of a small Ansel Adams photograph?
Based on 266 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ansel Adams photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $7,362, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. 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 medium Ansel Adams photograph?
Based on 27 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ansel Adams photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $21,250, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. 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 Ansel Adams's auction record?
Ansel Adams's auction record is $404,860, set in 2008.
See the full Ansel Adams record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ansel Adams on OpeningBid →