James Brown (1951–2020)
James Brown is an American artist with 68 auction lots recorded since 1996, median price $1,125. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by James Brown sold in 2026 for $1,905, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 James Brown work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow James Brown free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full James Brown record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Brown on OpeningBid →What is a James Brown work worth?
Across 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Brown work is $1,125.
The median James Brown print sells for $583 across 19 lots.
The median James Brown work on paper sells for $892 across 15 lots.
The median James Brown painting sells for $21,000 across 8 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 | 20 | $583‡ | $3,072 | 95% | 2026-10-15 |
| Paintings | 8 | $21,000‡ | $38,522 | — | 2015-11-03 |
| Works on Paper | 20 | $892†‡ | $16,707 | 75% | 2022-05-29 |
| Photography | 2 | $805 | $805 | 50% | 1998-04-06 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $33,728 | $38,522 | — | 2024-12-05 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
James Brown's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (20 lots) median $583 with 95% sell-through. Paintings (8 lots) median $21,000, record $38,522. A typical James Brown painting sells for around 36× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $33,728.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $778–$1,875 | $1,875 | $2,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $380–$402‡ | $401‡ | $3,072 |
‡ 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) | 6 | $259–$676‡ | $408‡ | $892 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $808–$4,420†‡ | $2,443†‡ | $16,707 |
† 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 | 2000 | $38,522 |
| Paintings | 2013 | $26,058 |
| Works on Paper | 1999 | $16,707 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $8,000† |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $3,072 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $2,500 |
| Photography | 1998 | $805 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a James Brown worth?
Across 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Brown work is $1,125. The median James Brown print sells for $583 across 19 lots. The median James Brown work on paper sells for $892 across 15 lots. The median James Brown painting sells for $21,000 across 8 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 James Brown print?
Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Brown print is $583. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is James Brown's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a James Brown print is $3,072.
What is the average price of a James Brown work on paper?
Based on 15 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Brown work on paper is $892. 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 James Brown's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a James Brown work on paper is $16,707.
What is the average price of a medium James Brown print?
Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium James Brown print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $401, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is James Brown's auction record?
James Brown's auction record is $38,522, set in 2000.
See the full James Brown record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Brown on OpeningBid →