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

# Bill Viola (1951–2024)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 41 auction results for Bill Viola at 14 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $62,038 including buyer’s premium (middle half $54,200–$79,408, n=7). The auction record is $601,000 for Witness (2007, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness | — | $601,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| 2 | Surrender | Colour video diptych on two plasma displays mounted vertically on wall | $507,949 | Sotheby's | Feb 2010 |
| 3 | Witness, 2001 | Color video triptych on three LCD flat panels mounted on wall | $374,400 | Christie's | Nov 2005 |
| 4 | Mater, 2001 | Colour video diptych on two freestanding hinged LCD flat panels | $247,981 | Christie's | Feb 2006 |
| 5 | Four Hands, 2001 | Black and white video polyptych on four LCD panel displays | $246,458 | Christie's | Oct 2008 |
| 6 | Catherine's Vow, 2002 | Colour video on freestanding LCD flat panel | $212,087 | Christie's | Oct 2006 |
| 7 | Anima, 2000 | Three LCD flat panels with DVD playback equipment and three DVDs | $210,932 | Christie's | Oct 2008 |
| 8 | Study for the Path, 2002 | Color DVD on three LCD flat panel screens, triptych | $187,500 | Phillips | May 2019 |
| 9 | Study for the Voyage, 2002 | Color video diptych on two LCD flat panels | $146,500 | Christie's | May 2009 |
| 10 | Ablutions, 2005 | Color | $144,900 | Sotheby's | Jan 2021 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 6 | $141,000 |
| Other | 25 | $95,315 |
| Prints | 5 | $1,875 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $109,170 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 15 | $81,900 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $35,434 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 41 results from 14 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Bill Viola is an American artist with 54 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $68,096. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Bill Viola sold in 2026 for $107,453, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Bill Viola work worth?

Across 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bill Viola work is $68,096.

The median Bill Viola painting sells for $187,500 across 11 lots.

The median Bill Viola print sells for $1,505 across 6 lots.

The median Bill Viola work on paper sells for $112,585 across 5 lots.

Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 7 | $1,505‡ | $3,250 | 85.7% | 2024-04-13 |
| Paintings | 12 | $187,500 | $374,400 | 91.7% | 2025-04-10 |
| Works on Paper | 5 | $112,585 | $144,900 | — | 2024-10-01 |
| Photography | 3 | $2,816‡ | $4,860 | 66.7% | 2020-05-18 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 13 | $210,932 | $601,000 | — | 2026-10-23 |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Bill Viola's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (7 lots) median $1,505 with 85.7% sell-through. Paintings (12 lots) median $187,500, record $374,400. A typical Bill Viola painting sells for around 125× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 13 lots) the median is $210,932.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $94,500–$246,458 | $146,500 | $247,981 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2005 | $374,400 |
| Paintings | 2006 | $247,981 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $144,900 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $126,000 |
| Photography | 2020 | $4,860 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $3,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $2,000 |
| Photography | 2015 | $773‡ |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

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 Viola worth?

Across 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bill Viola work is $68,096. The median Bill Viola painting sells for $187,500 across 11 lots. The median Bill Viola print sells for $1,505 across 6 lots. The median Bill Viola work on paper sells for $112,585 across 5 lots. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a Bill Viola painting?

Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bill Viola painting is $187,500.

### What is Bill Viola's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Bill Viola painting is $374,400.

### What is Bill Viola's auction record?

Bill Viola's auction record is $601,000, set in 2007.

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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 Viola auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/bill-viola (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.