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

# Arman (1928–2005)

## What is Arman’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 2,428 auction results for Arman at 94 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,840 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,391–$10,832, n=179). The auction record is $642,780 for Gambit, le grand jeu d'échec (2022, Artcurial). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gambit, le grand jeu d'échec, 2003 | Résine noire | $642,780 | Artcurial | May 2022 |
| 2 | ACCORD MAJEUR, 1962 | Coupe de violoncelles sur panneau en bois | $549,201 | Artcurial | Jan 2008 |
| 3 | Massacre des Innocents I | Accumulation of dolls in wooden and metal box | $481,188 | Sotheby's | Jul 2008 |
| 4 | Violoncelle brûlé, 1969 | Burnt cello in Plexiglas | $280,579 | Christie's | Feb 2007 |
| 5 | Mulligan's Chorus, 1983 | Accumulation of saxophones | $275,076 | Christie's | Jun 2007 |
| 6 | Colère.Violon éclaté sur panneau bois, 1962 | Colère.Violon éclaté sur panneau bois | $274,600 | Artcurial | Jan 2008 |
| 7 | CACHET OEIL DE TIGRE, 1959, 1959 | Empreintes de tampons | $262,375 | Artcurial | Apr 2007 |
| 8 | ALLURE D'OBJET, 1960 | Traces d'objets, peinture sur papier marouflé sur toile | $256,294 | Artcurial | Jan 2008 |
| 9 | CA TOURNE, 1996 | Bronze | $247,090 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Oct 2015 |
| 10 | POUBELLE DES HALLES, 1961 | Déchets des Halles dans boîte | $237,987 | Artcurial | Jan 2008 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 128 | $20,664 |
| Other | 522 | $8,750 |
| Sculpture | 669 | $8,125 |
| Works on paper | 67 | $4,935 |
| Prints | 187 | $503 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 198 | $29,748 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 702 | $7,138 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 421 | $2,560 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 2,428 results from 94 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Arman is an American artist with 3,614 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $5,000. 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 Arman sold in 2026 for $28,654, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**9 Arman works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

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

## What is a Arman work worth?

Across 2,403 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Arman work is $5,000.

The median Arman sculpture sells for $6,975 across 866 lots.

The median Arman print sells for $541 across 448 lots.

The median Arman painting sells for $21,124 across 128 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Arman sculptures typically sell for $5,000–$18,011 (the middle half of 395 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Arman prints typically sell for $248–$889 (the middle half of 267 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 | 599 | $541†‡ | $262,375 | 74.8% | 2026-08-14 |
| Paintings | 151 | $21,124†‡ | $256,294 | 84.8% | 2026-07-29 |
| Works on Paper | 123 | $3,242†‡ | $52,138 | 74.8% | 2026-04-17 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1,135 | $6,975†‡ | $642,780 | 76.3% | 2026-09-12 |
| Photography | 19 | $2,193†‡ | $15,136 | 73.7% | 2026-04-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 116 | $98,382†‡ | $642,780 | — | 2026-03-10 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Arman's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (599 lots) median $541 with 74.8% sell-through. Paintings (151 lots) median $21,124, record $256,294. A typical Arman painting sells for around 39× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 116 lots) the median is $98,382.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 120 | $272–$1,950†‡ | $573†‡ | $13,949 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 267 | $248–$889†‡ | $442†‡ | $33,641 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 19 | $1,779–$12,054†‡ | $4,425†‡ | $24,642 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $3,681–$21,250†‡ | $6,600†‡ | $68,337 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 60 | $6,434–$23,970†‡ | $10,812†‡ | $143,457 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 46 | $21,400–$59,062†‡ | $39,080†‡ | $198,524 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 28 | $883–$2,631†‡ | $1,297†‡ | $15,992 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 44 | $2,162–$6,317†‡ | $4,028†‡ | $52,138 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $11,103–$25,700‡ | $15,251‡ | $44,589 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 248 | $1,817–$6,358†‡ | $3,043†‡ | $129,388 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 395 | $5,000–$18,011†‡ | $8,445†‡ | $145,628 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 71 | $18,477–$54,822†‡ | $29,585†‡ | $247,090 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $1,625–$4,444†‡ | $2,301†‡ | $15,136 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $642,780 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2008 | $274,600 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $262,375 |
| Paintings | 2008 | $256,294 |
| Paintings | 2006 | $198,524 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $52,138 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $44,589 |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $40,590 |

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 Arman worth?

Across 2,403 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Arman work is $5,000. The median Arman sculpture sells for $6,975 across 866 lots. The median Arman print sells for $541 across 448 lots. The median Arman painting sells for $21,124 across 128 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Arman sculptures typically sell for $5,000–$18,011 (the middle half of 395 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Arman prints typically sell for $248–$889 (the middle half of 267 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 Arman sculpture?

Based on 866 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Arman sculpture is $6,975. 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 Arman's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Arman sculpture is $642,780.

### What is the average price of a Arman print?

Based on 448 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Arman print is $541. 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 Arman's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Arman print is $262,375.

### What is the average price of a Arman painting?

Based on 128 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Arman painting is $21,124. 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 Arman's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Arman painting is $256,294.

### What is the average price of a medium Arman sculpture?

Based on 395 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Arman sculpture (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,445, 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 Arman print?

Based on 267 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Arman print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $442, 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 Arman's auction record?

Arman's auction record is $642,780, set in 2022.

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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, “Arman auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/arman (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.