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

# Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975)

## What is Barbara Hepworth’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 495 auction results for Barbara Hepworth at 40 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $30,480 including buyer’s premium (middle half $4,204–$457,219, n=60). The auction record is $11,565,000 for The Family of Man: Ancestor II (2023, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Family of Man: Ancestor II, 1970 | Bronze | $11,565,000 | Christie's | Nov 2023 |
| 2 | The Family of Man: Figure 2, Ancestor II, 1970 | Bronze with dark brown and green patina | $9,610,000 | Christie's | May 2025 |
| 3 | Elegy III, 1966 | Bronze | $8,634,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 4 | Three Obliques (Walk In), 1968 | Bronze with a green, brown and golden patina | $7,111,647 | Christie's | Oct 2023 |
| 5 | Parent II, 1970 | Bronze | $7,110,000 | Christie's | May 2021 |
| 6 | Figure for Landscape, 1959-60 | Bronze with a green/brown patina | $7,077,761 | Christie's | Jun 2014 |
| 7 | Hollow Form with White Interior, 1963 | Nigerian guarea wood with white paint | $7,075,930 | Christie's | Jun 2022 |
| 8 | Sculpture with Colour (Eos), 1946 | Hopton wood stone with grey and blue paint | $5,429,000 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 9 | Sea Form (Atlantic), 1964 | Bronze | $5,286,922 | Sotheby's | Jun 2024 |
| 10 | The Family of Man (Figure 8, The Bride), 1970 | Bronze with a dark brown, green and golden patina | $5,272,759 | Christie's | Oct 2025 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 200 | $451,800 |
| Other | 40 | $111,947 |
| Paintings | 28 | $104,487 |
| Works on paper | 8 | $61,037 |
| Prints | 171 | $3,802 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 33 | $1,734,505 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 138 | $195,326 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 238 | $4,948 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 495 results from 40 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Barbara Hepworth is a British (modern) artist with 524 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $62,315. 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 Barbara Hepworth sold in 2026 for $2,250,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**2 Barbara Hepworth works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

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

## What is a Barbara Hepworth work worth?

Across 493 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Barbara Hepworth work is $62,315.

The median Barbara Hepworth sculpture sells for $416,545 across 208 lots.

The median Barbara Hepworth print sells for $3,570 across 201 lots.

The median Barbara Hepworth work on paper sells for $90,318 across 39 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Barbara Hepworth prints typically sell for $2,375–$5,079 (the middle half of 187 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Barbara Hepworth sculptures typically sell for $124,113–$558,709 (the middle half of 106 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 | 211 | $3,570†‡ | $55,686 | 95.3% | 2026-09-17 |
| Paintings | 14 | $88,267 | $245,380 | — | 2026-03-03 |
| Works on Paper | 40 | $90,318†‡ | $633,208 | 97.5% | 2025-10-29 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 214 | $416,545†‡ | $11.6M | 97.2% | 2026-05-11 |
| Photography | 2 | $24,664 | $49,020 | — | 2026-04-11 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 225 | $422,500†‡ | $11.6M | — | 2026-05-11 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Barbara Hepworth's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (211 lots) median $3,570 with 95.3% sell-through. Paintings (14 lots) median $88,267, record $245,380. A typical Barbara Hepworth painting sells for around 25× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 225 lots) the median is $422,500.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $1,175–$4,215‡ | $3,884‡ | $55,686 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 187 | $2,375–$5,079†‡ | $3,570†‡ | $40,320 |

† 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) | 8 | $73,354–$182,347 | $96,875 | $245,380 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $68,181–$110,073 | $78,359 | $127,000 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 20 | $13,550–$196,116†‡ | $76,409†‡ | $598,960 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 19 | $42,924–$204,738 | $100,972 | $633,208 |

† 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) | 106 | $124,113–$558,709†‡ | $240,146†‡ | $2.2M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 44 | $287,806–$1.1M | $556,196 | $7.1M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 33 | $915,000–$5.1M | $1.7M | $11.6M |

† 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 | 2023 | $11.6M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $9.6M |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $633,208 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $598,960 |
| Paintings | 2011 | $245,380 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $205,861 |
| Prints & Editions | 2008 | $55,686 |
| Photography | 2026 | $49,020 |

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 Barbara Hepworth worth?

Across 493 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Barbara Hepworth work is $62,315. The median Barbara Hepworth sculpture sells for $416,545 across 208 lots. The median Barbara Hepworth print sells for $3,570 across 201 lots. The median Barbara Hepworth work on paper sells for $90,318 across 39 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Barbara Hepworth prints typically sell for $2,375–$5,079 (the middle half of 187 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Barbara Hepworth sculptures typically sell for $124,113–$558,709 (the middle half of 106 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 Barbara Hepworth sculpture?

Based on 208 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Barbara Hepworth sculpture is $416,545. 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 Barbara Hepworth's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Barbara Hepworth sculpture is $11,565,000.

### What is the average price of a Barbara Hepworth print?

Based on 201 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Barbara Hepworth print is $3,570. 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 Barbara Hepworth's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Barbara Hepworth print is $55,686.

### What is the average price of a Barbara Hepworth work on paper?

Based on 39 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Barbara Hepworth work on paper is $90,318. 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 Barbara Hepworth's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Barbara Hepworth work on paper is $633,208.

### What is the average price of a medium Barbara Hepworth print?

Based on 187 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Barbara Hepworth print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,570, 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 small Barbara Hepworth sculpture?

Based on 106 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Barbara Hepworth sculpture (small (under 50 cm)) is $240,146, 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 Barbara Hepworth's auction record?

Barbara Hepworth's auction record is $11,565,000, set in 2023.

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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, “Barbara Hepworth auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/barbara-hepworth (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.