Barnett Newman (1905–1970)
What is Barnett Newman’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 94 auction results for Barnett Newman at 14 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $49,530 including buyer’s premium (middle half $34,160–$66,300, n=10). The auction record is $84,165,000 for Black Fire I (2014, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Fire I, 1961 | Oil paint | $84,165,000 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| 2 | Onement V, 1952 | Oil paint | $22,482,500 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| 3 | Untitled 4, 1950 | Oil paint | $10,490,000 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 4 | Untitled (ink on paper), 1969 | Ink | $5,193,000 | Christie's | May 2008 |
| 5 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1945 | Oil paint | $4,092,500 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 6 | White Fire I, 1954 | Oil paint | $3,859,500 | Christie's | Nov 2002 |
| 7 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1945 | Oil paint | $3,218,500 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| 8 | Untitled (ink on paper), 1946 | Ink | $2,994,500 | Christie's | Nov 2008 |
| 9 | Untitled (ink on paper), 1946 | Ink | $2,952,000 | Christie's | May 2007 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 Cantos, 1963-1964 | Lithographs in colors on various wove papers | $2,107,000 | Christie's | Apr 2023 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 10 | $3,539,000 |
| Works on paper | 11 | $1,206,500 |
| Prints | 58 | $48,341 |
| Other | 6 | $6,449 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 27 | $114,987 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 31 | $60,480 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 22 | $27,414 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 94 results from 14 houses · How we compute these figures
Barnett Newman is an American artist with 112 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $48,070. 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 Barnett Newman sold in 2026 for $70,400, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Barnett Newman work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Barnett Newman free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Barnett Newman record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Barnett Newman on OpeningBid →What is a Barnett Newman work worth?
Across 94 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Barnett Newman work is $48,070.
The median Barnett Newman print sells for $40,320 across 64 lots.
The median Barnett Newman painting sells for $1,682,500 across 12 lots.
The median Barnett Newman work on paper sells for $1,206,500 across 11 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Barnett Newman prints typically sell for $48,070–$141,714 (the middle half of 23 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Barnett Newman prints typically sell for $26,599–$69,300 (the middle half of 21 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 | 76 | $40,320†‡ | $2.1M | 84.2% | 2026-10-09 |
| Paintings | 14 | $1.7M‡ | $84.2M | 85.7% | 2024-09-27 |
| Works on Paper | 14 | $1.2M† | $5.2M | 78.6% | 2025-11-19 |
| Photography | 1 | $272 | $272 | — | 2021-05-17 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 28 | $1.1M | $84.2M | — | 2025-11-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Barnett Newman's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (76 lots) median $40,320 with 84.2% sell-through. Paintings (14 lots) median $1,682,500, record $84,165,000. A typical Barnett Newman painting sells for around 42× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 28 lots) the median is $1,115,250.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 21 | $26,599–$69,300‡ | $50,439‡ | $125,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $48,070–$141,714†‡ | $63,000†‡ | $2.1M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 20 | $7,119–$29,773† | $14,690† | $48,422 |
† 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) | 6 | $5,490–$21,690‡ | $11,160‡ | $146,500 |
‡ 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) | 6 | $408,625–$1.8M† | $892,500† | $2.1M |
† 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 | 2014 | $84.2M |
| Paintings | 2012 | $22.5M |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $5.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $3M |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $2.1M |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $341,852 |
| Photography | 2021 | $272 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Barnett Newman worth?
Across 94 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Barnett Newman work is $48,070. The median Barnett Newman print sells for $40,320 across 64 lots. The median Barnett Newman painting sells for $1,682,500 across 12 lots. The median Barnett Newman work on paper sells for $1,206,500 across 11 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Barnett Newman prints typically sell for $48,070–$141,714 (the middle half of 23 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Barnett Newman prints typically sell for $26,599–$69,300 (the middle half of 21 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 Barnett Newman print?
Based on 64 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Barnett Newman print is $40,320. 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 Barnett Newman's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Barnett Newman print is $2,107,000.
What is the average price of a Barnett Newman painting?
Based on 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Barnett Newman painting is $1,682,500. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Barnett Newman's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Barnett Newman painting is $84,165,000.
What is the average price of a Barnett Newman work on paper?
Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Barnett Newman work on paper is $1,206,500. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Barnett Newman's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Barnett Newman work on paper is $5,193,000.
What is the average price of a medium Barnett Newman print?
Based on 23 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Barnett Newman print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $63,000, 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 Barnett Newman print?
Based on 21 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Barnett Newman print (small (under 50 cm)) is $50,439, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Barnett Newman's auction record?
Barnett Newman's auction record is $84,165,000, set in 2014.
See the full Barnett Newman record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Barnett Newman on OpeningBid →