Beauford Delaney (1901–1979)
What is Beauford Delaney’s work worth?
As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 138 auction results for Beauford Delaney at 18 houses since 2007. Over the last 24 months the median price was $37,780 including buyer’s premium (middle half $20,120–$102,100, n=20). The auction record is $1,524,000 for The Sage Black (2025, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Sage Black, 1967 | Oil paint | $1,524,000 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| 2 | James Baldwin, 1966 | Oil paint | $1,148,271 | Christie's | Oct 2022 |
| 3 | Composition Bleu, 1960 | Oil paint | $781,200 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 4 | Untitled (Greenwich Village Street, New York.), 1979 | Oil on linen canvas | $629,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2024 |
| 5 | Untitled (Village Street Scene), 1948 | Oil on canvas | $557,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2018 |
| 6 | Untitled, 1961 | Huile sur toile | $512,091 | Artcurial | Jul 2020 |
| 7 | Street Scene, 1968 | Oil paint | $478,800 | Phillips | Dec 2020 |
| 8 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1961 | Oil paint | $475,000 | Christie's | May 2021 |
| 9 | Untitled, 1958 | Huile sur toile | $389,598 | Artcurial | Jul 2020 |
| 10 | Abstraction No. 4, 1965 | Oil paint | $387,000 | Christie's | Feb 2019 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 63 | $81,900 |
| Other | 5 | $14,620 |
| Works on paper | 57 | $11,875 |
| Prints | 5 | $10,000 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $177,800 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 88 | $20,791 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $11,618 |
Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 138 results from 18 houses · How we compute these figures
Beauford Delaney is an American artist with 178 auction lots recorded since 2007, median price $24,064. 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 Beauford Delaney sold in 2026 for $133,709, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Beauford Delaney work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Beauford Delaney free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Beauford Delaney record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Beauford Delaney on OpeningBid →What is a Beauford Delaney work worth?
Across 134 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Beauford Delaney work is $24,064.
The median Beauford Delaney work on paper sells for $12,422 across 60 lots.
The median Beauford Delaney painting sells for $83,450 across 62 lots.
The median Beauford Delaney print sells for $10,000 across 5 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Beauford Delaney work on papers typically sell for $9,160–$28,237 (the middle half of 44 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Beauford Delaney paintings typically sell for $23,179–$137,782 (the middle half of 40 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 | 5 | $10,000 | $30,000 | — | 2022-10-06 |
| Paintings | 65 | $83,450†‡ | $1.5M | 95.4% | 2026-06-25 |
| Works on Paper | 68 | $12,422†‡ | $137,000 | 88.2% | 2026-10-13 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 29 | $211,524‡ | $1.5M | — | 2026-06-25 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Beauford Delaney's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $10,000. Paintings (65 lots) median $83,450, record $1,524,000. A typical Beauford Delaney painting sells for around 8.3× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 29 lots) the median is $211,524.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $30,610–$80,175† | $37,566† | $315,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 40 | $23,179–$137,782‡ | $69,700‡ | $1.5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $102,100–$475,000 | $177,800 | $781,200 |
† 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) | 13 | $5,000–$10,892† | $6,750† | $14,000† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 44 | $9,160–$28,237†‡ | $15,000†‡ | $137,000 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2025 | $1.5M |
| Paintings | 2022 | $1.1M |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $137,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $80,371 |
| Prints & Editions | 2008 | $30,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $18,000 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Beauford Delaney worth?
Across 134 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Beauford Delaney work is $24,064. The median Beauford Delaney work on paper sells for $12,422 across 60 lots. The median Beauford Delaney painting sells for $83,450 across 62 lots. The median Beauford Delaney print sells for $10,000 across 5 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Beauford Delaney work on papers typically sell for $9,160–$28,237 (the middle half of 44 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Beauford Delaney paintings typically sell for $23,179–$137,782 (the middle half of 40 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 Beauford Delaney work on paper?
Based on 60 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Beauford Delaney work on paper is $12,422. 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 Beauford Delaney's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Beauford Delaney work on paper is $137,000.
What is the average price of a Beauford Delaney painting?
Based on 62 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Beauford Delaney painting is $83,450. 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 Beauford Delaney's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Beauford Delaney painting is $1,524,000.
What is the average price of a medium Beauford Delaney work on paper?
Based on 44 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Beauford Delaney work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $15,000, 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 medium Beauford Delaney painting?
Based on 40 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Beauford Delaney painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $69,700, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Beauford Delaney's auction record?
Beauford Delaney's auction record is $1,524,000, set in 2025.
See the full Beauford Delaney record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Beauford Delaney on OpeningBid →