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

# Bruce Nauman (b. 1941)

## What is Bruce Nauman’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 506 auction results for Bruce Nauman at 40 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,376 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,548–$4,787, n=53). The auction record is $8,996,400 for Life, Death, Love, Hate, Pleasure, Pain (2021, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Life, Death, Love, Hate, Pleasure, Pain, 1983 | Glass | $8,996,400 | Sotheby's | May 2021 |
| 2 | Untitled (Hand Group), 1997 | Phosphorous bronze | $4,197,000 | Christie's | Nov 2015 |
| 3 | Hanged Man, 1985 | Neon tubing mounted on metal monolith | $4,043,000 | Christie's | May 2024 |
| 4 | Hanging Heads # 1 (Blue Andrew, Mouth Open / Red Julie with Cap), 1989 | Sculpture | $2,769,502 | Phillips | Jun 2015 |
| 5 | Masturbating Man, 1985 | Neon tubing mounted on wood panel | $2,757,500 | Phillips | Nov 2018 |
| 6 | Stacked, 1990 | Wax | $2,251,750 | Christie's | May 2013 |
| 7 | Untitled (Three Small Animals), 1989 | Aluminum, wire | $2,227,500 | Christie's | May 2017 |
| 8 | Fish Fountain, 2003 | Copper | $2,045,000 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 9 | Eat War, 1986 | Neon tubing with clear glass tubing in suspension frame | $1,685,000 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 10 | From Hand to Mouth, 1967 | Graphite | $1,575,000 | Christie's | May 2019 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 33 | $228,000 |
| Works on paper | 49 | $78,247 |
| Other | 56 | $20,150 |
| Prints | 289 | $3,750 |
| Photographs | 10 | $3,729 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 35 | $141,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 66 | $6,275 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 310 | $4,661 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 506 results from 40 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Bruce Nauman is an American artist with 602 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $5,000. 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 Bruce Nauman sold in 2026 for $26,952, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**2 Bruce Nauman works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Bruce Nauman on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/bruce-nauman?ref=kg:bruce-nauman) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Bruce Nauman work worth?

Across 505 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bruce Nauman work is $5,000.

The median Bruce Nauman print sells for $3,354 across 341 lots.

The median Bruce Nauman work on paper sells for $88,200 across 46 lots.

The median Bruce Nauman sculpture sells for $339,387 across 44 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Bruce Nauman prints typically sell for $1,927–$6,875 (the middle half of 280 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Bruce Nauman prints typically sell for $2,032–$6,875 (the middle half of 41 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 | 388 | $3,354†‡ | $150,000 | 87.9% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 1 | $1.3M | $1.3M | — | 2023-05-19 |
| Works on Paper | 51 | $88,200† | $1.6M | 90.2% | 2026-10-22 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 48 | $339,387 | $4.2M | 91.7% | 2026-03-05 |
| Photography | 16 | $5,585 | $665,000 | — | 2025-07-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 67 | $471,500 | $9M | — | 2026-03-05 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Bruce Nauman's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (388 lots) median $3,354 with 87.9% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $1,270,000, record $1,270,000. A typical Bruce Nauman painting sells for around 379× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 67 lots) the median is $471,500.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 41 | $2,032–$6,875† | $3,810† | $27,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 280 | $1,927–$6,875†‡ | $3,197†‡ | $150,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $4,750–$26,520 | $18,125 | $56,250 |

† 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) | 7 | $3,306–$23,370† | $8,625† | $48,300 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $62,655–$137,500 | $81,250 | $1.6M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $143,867–$608,000 | $276,300 | $1.5M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $108,688–$852,477 | $363,500 | $2.8M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $45,701–$584,500 | $339,387 | $4.2M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $45,007–$2.1M | $329,795 | $4M |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $5,542–$12,403 | $7,742 | $25,000 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2015 | $4.2M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $4M |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $1.6M |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $1.5M |
| Paintings | 2023 | $1.3M |
| Photography | 2014 | $665,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $150,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $81,250 |

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 Bruce Nauman worth?

Across 505 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bruce Nauman work is $5,000. The median Bruce Nauman print sells for $3,354 across 341 lots. The median Bruce Nauman work on paper sells for $88,200 across 46 lots. The median Bruce Nauman sculpture sells for $339,387 across 44 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Bruce Nauman prints typically sell for $1,927–$6,875 (the middle half of 280 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Bruce Nauman prints typically sell for $2,032–$6,875 (the middle half of 41 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 Bruce Nauman print?

Based on 341 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bruce Nauman print is $3,354. 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 Bruce Nauman's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Bruce Nauman print is $150,000.

### What is the average price of a Bruce Nauman work on paper?

Based on 46 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bruce Nauman work on paper is $88,200. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Bruce Nauman's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Bruce Nauman work on paper is $1,575,000.

### What is the average price of a Bruce Nauman sculpture?

Based on 44 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bruce Nauman sculpture is $339,387.

### What is Bruce Nauman's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Bruce Nauman sculpture is $4,197,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Bruce Nauman print?

Based on 280 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Bruce Nauman print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,197, 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 Bruce Nauman print?

Based on 41 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Bruce Nauman print (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,810, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Bruce Nauman's auction record?

Bruce Nauman's auction record is $8,996,400, set in 2021.

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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, “Bruce Nauman auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/bruce-nauman (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.