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

# Carlos Mérida (1891–1985)

## What is Carlos Mérida’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 196 auction results for Carlos Mérida at 24 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,857 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,016–$16,510, n=25). The auction record is $300,000 for Fiesta de pájaros (2024, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiesta de pájaros, 1959 | Petroplastic on panel | $300,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2024 |
| 2 | El Mensaje & Estudio de El Mensaje, 1960 | Oil and lacquer on panel | $264,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2024 |
| 3 | El pequeño venado, 1968 | Painting | $212,500 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 4 | Sin título, petroplastic and gold leaf on panel, 1968 | Petroplastic and gold leaf on panel | $189,000 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 5 | Cinco paneles, 1963 | Gouache and pencil on incised board mounted on panel | $120,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2024 |
| 6 | El encantador de pájaros, 1970 | Wool | $118,750 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 7 | Blanco absoluto, 1965 | Resin | $113,400 | Sotheby's | May 2021 |
| 8 | El pequeo venado, 1968 | Painting | $112,500 | Christie's | May 1998 |
| 9 | Juego de círculos, 1976 | Oil and brush and ink on canvas | $107,950 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |
| 10 | Sortilegio, 1978 | Oil on canvas | $107,100 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 39 | $67,000 |
| Other | 17 | $11,250 |
| Works on paper | 41 | $10,625 |
| Prints | 30 | $1,131 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 59 | $25,000 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $7,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 48 | $3,690 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 196 results from 24 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Carlos Mérida is a Guatemalan artist with 231 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $6,122. 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 Carlos Mérida sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $9,160 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Carlos Mérida work worth?

Across 193 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Carlos Mérida work is $6,122.

The median Carlos Mérida print sells for $944 across 73 lots.

The median Carlos Mérida work on paper sells for $9,160 across 42 lots.

The median Carlos Mérida painting sells for $40,640 across 41 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Carlos Mérida prints typically sell for $455–$2,063 (the middle half of 38 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Carlos Mérida prints typically sell for $643–$1,685 (the middle half of 31 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 | 78 | $944† | $20,176† | 93.6% | 2026-09-24 |
| Paintings | 45 | $40,640†‡ | $212,500 | 91.1% | 2025-05-29 |
| Works on Paper | 54 | $9,160†‡ | $120,000 | 77.8% | 2026-04-08 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $85,050 | $113,400 | — | 2021-05-14 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 13 | $113,400 | $300,000 | — | 2024-11-19 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Carlos Mérida's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (78 lots) median $944 with 93.6% sell-through. Paintings (45 lots) median $40,640, record $212,500. A typical Carlos Mérida painting sells for around 43× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 13 lots) the median is $113,400.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 38 | $455–$2,063† | $990† | $11,316† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 31 | $643–$1,685† | $916† | $18,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $11,741–$40,160 | $20,160 | $100,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 24 | $26,950–$83,650†‡ | $61,188†‡ | $212,500 |

† 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) | 21 | $3,250–$7,188†‡ | $4,372†‡ | $11,875 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $14,340–$37,500† | $20,000† | $56,250 |

† 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 | 2019 | $212,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $120,000 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $118,750 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $113,400 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2008 | $56,700 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $56,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $20,176† |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $18,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Carlos Mérida worth?

Across 193 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Carlos Mérida work is $6,122. The median Carlos Mérida print sells for $944 across 73 lots. The median Carlos Mérida work on paper sells for $9,160 across 42 lots. The median Carlos Mérida painting sells for $40,640 across 41 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Carlos Mérida prints typically sell for $455–$2,063 (the middle half of 38 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Carlos Mérida prints typically sell for $643–$1,685 (the middle half of 31 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 Carlos Mérida print?

Based on 73 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Carlos Mérida print is $944. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Carlos Mérida's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Carlos Mérida print is $20,176. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $20,176 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a Carlos Mérida work on paper?

Based on 42 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Carlos Mérida work on paper is $9,160. 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 Carlos Mérida's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Carlos Mérida work on paper is $120,000.

### What is the average price of a Carlos Mérida painting?

Based on 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Carlos Mérida painting is $40,640. 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 Carlos Mérida's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Carlos Mérida painting is $212,500.

### What is the average price of a small Carlos Mérida print?

Based on 38 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Carlos Mérida print (small (under 50 cm)) is $990, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a medium Carlos Mérida print?

Based on 31 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Carlos Mérida print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $916, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Carlos Mérida's auction record?

Carlos Mérida's auction record is $300,000, set in 2024.

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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, “Carlos Mérida auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/carlos-merida (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.