Diane Arbus (1923–1971)
Diane Arbus is an American artist with 166 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $10,903. 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 Diane Arbus sold in 2020 for $20,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Diane Arbus record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Diane Arbus on OpeningBid →What is a Diane Arbus work worth?
Across 150 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Diane Arbus work is $10,903.
The median Diane Arbus photograph sells for $12,092 across 135 lots.
The median Diane Arbus print sells for $1,530 across 6 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Diane Arbus photographs typically sell for $6,549–$38,411 (the middle half of 112 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 | 7 | $1,530† | $2,040 | 85.7% | 2016-07-10 |
| Photography | 143 | $12,092‡ | $862,447 | 94.4% | 2026-04-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $201,725 | $862,447 | — | 2012-10-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 112 | $6,549–$38,411‡ | $16,563‡ | $862,447 |
‡ 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 | 2007 | $862,447 |
| Photography | 2005 | $537,343 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $2,040 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $1,800 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Diane Arbus worth?
Across 150 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Diane Arbus work is $10,903. The median Diane Arbus photograph sells for $12,092 across 135 lots. The median Diane Arbus print sells for $1,530 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Diane Arbus photographs typically sell for $6,549–$38,411 (the middle half of 112 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 Diane Arbus photograph?
Based on 135 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Diane Arbus photograph is $12,092. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Diane Arbus's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Diane Arbus photograph is $862,447.
What is the average price of a small Diane Arbus photograph?
Based on 112 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Diane Arbus photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $16,563, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Diane Arbus's auction record?
Diane Arbus's auction record is $862,447, set in 2007.
See the full Diane Arbus record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Diane Arbus on OpeningBid →