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

# Bill Traylor (1854–1947)

## What is Bill Traylor’s work worth? {#value}

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.

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

| # | 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 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Self Portrait-Blue House | Pencil and posterpaint on paper | $137,500 | Freeman's Hindman | Sep 2015 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 36 | $58,125 |
| Works on paper | 44 | $50,000 |
| Prints | 6 | $46,938 |
| Paintings | 5 | $46,250 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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).

- [Bill Traylor on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/bill-traylor?ref=kg:bill-traylor) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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, “Bill Traylor auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/bill-traylor (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.