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

# Brett Whiteley (1939–1992)

## What is Brett Whiteley’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,089 auction results for Brett Whiteley at 16 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $8,087 including buyer’s premium (middle half $689–$37,409, n=196). The auction record is $2,693,981 for Woman on the Beach Reading an Art Catalogue (2026, Smith & Singer). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woman on the Beach Reading an Art Catalogue, 1980 | Oil, photograph and glass eye on canvas | $2,693,981 | Smith & Singer | Apr 2026 |
| 2 | THE WREN, 1978 | Oil on canvas | $2,599,877 | Deutscher and Hackett | Apr 2024 |
| 3 | BRETT WHITELEY, THE WREN, 1978, 1979 | Oil on canvas | $2,391,321 | Deutscher and Hackett | Apr 2024 |
| 4 | The Paddock - Late Afternoon, 1979 | Oil on canvas | $1,707,668 | Menzies Art Brands | Jun 2011 |
| 5 | SOUTH COAST AFTER THE RAIN, 1984 | Oil and collage on canvas (with white oil on Perspex surface) | $1,559,926 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2023 |
| 6 | South Coast after the Rain, 1984 | Oil and collage on canvas | $1,427,344 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2023 |
| 7 | Bather on the Sand, 1975 – 76 | Oil on canvas | $1,343,270 | Deutscher and Hackett | Apr 2024 |
| 8 | Bather on the Sand, 1975–76 | Oil on canvas | $1,235,516 | Deutscher and Hackett | Apr 2024 |
| 9 | The Sunrise, Japanese: Good Morning!, 1988 | Oil and collage on board with electric light | $1,202,332 | Menzies Art Brands | Sep 2009 |
| 10 | San Gimignano, Tuscany 1989-1990, 1989 | Oil and collage on canvas | $1,014,946 | Smith & Singer | Aug 2026 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 68 | $233,881 |
| Sculpture | 11 | $95,269 |
| Works on paper | 116 | $26,911 |
| Prints | 220 | $7,340 |
| Other | 90 | $227 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 51 | $266,103 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 302 | $10,072 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 121 | $7,203 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,089 results from 16 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Brett Whiteley is an Australian artist with 1,395 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $11,009. 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 Brett Whiteley sold in 2026 for $12,463, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Brett Whiteley work worth?

Across 1,057 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Brett Whiteley work is $11,009.

The median Brett Whiteley print sells for $4,656 across 542 lots.

The median Brett Whiteley work on paper sells for $25,855 across 221 lots.

The median Brett Whiteley painting sells for $268,400 across 168 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Brett Whiteley prints typically sell for $2,561–$10,128 (the middle half of 380 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Brett Whiteley work on papers typically sell for $19,573–$53,680 (the middle half of 132 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 | 719 | $4,656†‡ | $126,510‡ | 75.4% | 2026-09-22 |
| Paintings | 178 | $268,400†‡ | $2.6M | 94.4% | 2026-08-25 |
| Works on Paper | 247 | $25,855†‡ | $1.4M | 89.5% | 2026-09-22 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 9 | $197,208‡ | $467,978 | 88.9% | 2026-04-28 |
| Photography | 4 | $22,325 | $2.7M | 75% | 2026-04-28 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 178 | $336,596†‡ | $2.7M | — | 2026-08-25 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Brett Whiteley's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (719 lots) median $4,656 with 75.4% sell-through. Paintings (178 lots) median $268,400, record $2,599,877. A typical Brett Whiteley painting sells for around 58× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 178 lots) the median is $336,596.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 110 | $257–$5,289†‡ | $3,194†‡ | $64,997 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 380 | $2,561–$10,128†‡ | $5,124†‡ | $68,181† |
| large (over 120 cm) | 14 | $10,327–$19,375†‡ | $15,233†‡ | $126,510‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 18 | $14,042–$32,873†‡ | $27,836†‡ | $116,800 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 78 | $115,000–$387,496†‡ | $226,164†‡ | $861,490 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 61 | $270,669–$952,353†‡ | $648,312†‡ | $2.6M |

† 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) | 62 | $7,417–$19,501†‡ | $11,651†‡ | $151,254 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 132 | $19,573–$53,680†‡ | $31,651†‡ | $226,310 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 16 | $68,626–$225,388†‡ | $96,475†‡ | $1.6M |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2026 | $2.7M |
| Paintings | 2024 | $2.6M |
| Paintings | 2024 | $2.4M |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $1.6M |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $1.4M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $467,978 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2003 | $393,625 |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $126,510‡ |

‡ 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 Brett Whiteley worth?

Across 1,057 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Brett Whiteley work is $11,009. The median Brett Whiteley print sells for $4,656 across 542 lots. The median Brett Whiteley work on paper sells for $25,855 across 221 lots. The median Brett Whiteley painting sells for $268,400 across 168 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Brett Whiteley prints typically sell for $2,561–$10,128 (the middle half of 380 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Brett Whiteley work on papers typically sell for $19,573–$53,680 (the middle half of 132 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 Brett Whiteley print?

Based on 542 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Brett Whiteley print is $4,656. 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 Brett Whiteley's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Brett Whiteley print is $126,510. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a Brett Whiteley work on paper?

Based on 221 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Brett Whiteley work on paper is $25,855. 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 Brett Whiteley's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Brett Whiteley work on paper is $1,427,344.

### What is the average price of a Brett Whiteley painting?

Based on 168 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Brett Whiteley painting is $268,400. 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 Brett Whiteley's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Brett Whiteley painting is $2,599,877.

### What is the average price of a medium Brett Whiteley print?

Based on 380 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Brett Whiteley print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,124, 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 Brett Whiteley work on paper?

Based on 132 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Brett Whiteley work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $31,651, 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 Brett Whiteley's auction record?

Brett Whiteley's auction record is $2,693,981, set in 2026.

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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, “Brett Whiteley auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/brett-whiteley (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.