Bill Traylor (1854–1947)
What is Bill Traylor’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 95 auction results for Bill Traylor at 6 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $38,100 including buyer’s premium (middle half $34,150–$57,150, n=15). The auction record is $507,000 for Man on White, Woman on Red / Man with Black Dog (2020, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man on White, Woman on Red / Man with Black Dog, 1853 | Tempera | $507,000 | Christie's | Jan 2020 |
| 2 | Woman Pointing at Man with Cane, 1853 | Tempera | $396,500 | Christie's | Jan 2019 |
| 3 | Red Man on Blue Horse with Dog, 1853 | Tempera | $325,000 | Christie's | Jan 2020 |
| 4 | Two Dogs Fighting; Man Chasing Dog, 1853 | Tempera, graphite and colored pencils on white paper-faced card | $293,750 | Christie's | Jan 2021 |
| 5 | Goat, Camel, Lion and Figures, 1939 | Graphite | $252,000 | Christie's | Jan 2023 |
| 6 | Untitled (Man and Woman), 1853 | Tempera | $175,000 | Christie's | Feb 2022 |
| 7 | Construction with Exciting Event, 1853 | Tempera | $150,000 | Christie's | Jan 2019 |
| 8 | Blue Mule, 1853 | Tempera | $125,000 | Christie's | Jan 2021 |
| 9 | Goat, Camel, Lion and Figures, 1853 | Graphite | $125,000 | Christie's | Jan 2019 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Self Portrait-Blue House | Pencil and posterpaint on paper | $137,500 | Freeman's Hindman | Sep 2015 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 36 | $58,125 |
| Works on paper | 44 | $50,000 |
| Prints | 6 | $46,938 |
| Paintings | 5 | $46,250 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 15 | $68,750 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 76 | $48,130 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 95 results from 6 houses · How we compute these figures
Bill Traylor is an American artist with 101 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $50,000. 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 Bill Traylor sold in 2026 for $61,440, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
4 Bill Traylor works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Bill Traylor free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Bill Traylor record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Bill Traylor on OpeningBid →What is a Bill Traylor work worth?
Across 95 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bill Traylor work is $50,000.
The median Bill Traylor work on paper sells for $47,500 across 57 lots.
The median Bill Traylor painting sells for $65,095 across 28 lots.
The median Bill Traylor print sells for $40,389 across 6 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Bill Traylor work on papers typically sell for $30,420–$56,250 (the middle half of 48 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Bill Traylor paintings typically sell for $42,025–$85,350 (the middle half of 23 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 | 6 | $40,389† | $61,906 | — | 2023-06-07 |
| Paintings | 28 | $65,095 | $507,000 | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Works on Paper | 58 | $47,500†‡ | $325,000 | — | 2026-02-27 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 12 | $162,500 | $507,000 | — | 2023-01-18 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Bill Traylor's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (6 lots) median $40,389. Paintings (28 lots) median $65,095, record $507,000. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 12 lots) the median is $162,500.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $25,707–$41,480† | $39,297† | $52,396 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 23 | $42,025–$85,350 | $52,920 | $396,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $68,750–$87,500 | $75,000 | $507,000 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 48 | $30,420–$56,250†‡ | $41,420†‡ | $175,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $52,500–$252,000 | $68,750 | $325,000 |
† 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 | 2020 | $507,000 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $396,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $325,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $293,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $61,906 |
| Prints & Editions | 2004 | $52,396 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Bill Traylor worth?
Across 95 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bill Traylor work is $50,000. The median Bill Traylor work on paper sells for $47,500 across 57 lots. The median Bill Traylor painting sells for $65,095 across 28 lots. The median Bill Traylor print sells for $40,389 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Bill Traylor work on papers typically sell for $30,420–$56,250 (the middle half of 48 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Bill Traylor paintings typically sell for $42,025–$85,350 (the middle half of 23 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 Bill Traylor work on paper?
Based on 57 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bill Traylor work on paper is $47,500. 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 Bill Traylor's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Bill Traylor work on paper is $325,000.
What is the average price of a Bill Traylor painting?
Based on 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bill Traylor painting is $65,095.
What is Bill Traylor's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Bill Traylor painting is $507,000.
What is the average price of a small Bill Traylor work on paper?
Based on 48 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Bill Traylor work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $41,420, 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 Bill Traylor painting?
Based on 23 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Bill Traylor painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $52,920, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Bill Traylor's auction record?
Bill Traylor's auction record is $507,000, set in 2020.
See the full Bill Traylor record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Bill Traylor on OpeningBid →