> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ben-messick · updated 2026-11-03

# Ben Messick (1901–1981)

Ben Messick is an American artist with 19 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $605. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by Ben Messick sold in 2021 for $625, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Ben Messick work worth?

Across 15 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ben Messick work is $605.

The median Ben Messick print sells for $605 across 7 lots.

The median Ben Messick work on paper sells for $625 across 5 lots.

The median Ben Messick painting sells for $225 across 1 lots.

Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 7 | $605 | $1,800 | — | 2013-01-10 |
| Paintings | 2 | $225† | $225† | 50% | 2025-11-24 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $625 | $3,162 | 83.3% | 2023-01-24 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Ben Messick's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (7 lots) median $605. Paintings (2 lots) median $225, record $225. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $225 (buyer's premium not included).

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $464–$605 | $540 | $605 |

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $3,162 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $1,800 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $1,150 |
| Prints & Editions | 2003 | $605 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $225† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Ben Messick worth?

Across 15 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ben Messick work is $605. The median Ben Messick print sells for $605 across 7 lots. The median Ben Messick work on paper sells for $625 across 5 lots. The median Ben Messick painting sells for $225 across 1 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Ben Messick's auction record?

Ben Messick's auction record is $3,408, set in 2002.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Ben Messick auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ben-messick (updated 2026-11-03).

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.