> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/carsten-nicolai · updated 2026-11-03

# Carsten Nicolai (b. 1965)

Carsten Nicolai is a German artist with 43 auction lots recorded since 2006, median price $1,007. 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 Carsten Nicolai sold in 2026 for $1,077, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Carsten Nicolai work worth?

Across 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Carsten Nicolai work is $1,007.

The median Carsten Nicolai print sells for $730 across 8 lots.

The median Carsten Nicolai photograph sells for $1,306 across 4 lots.

The median Carsten Nicolai sculpture sells for $3,902 across 3 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 | 14 | $730†‡ | $5,040 | 57.1% | 2025-02-05 |
| Paintings | 3 | $1,077 | $1,077 | 66.7% | 2016-11-28 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $326‡ | $326‡ | 33.3% | 2023-06-09 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 3 | $3,902 | $4,655 | — | 2025-08-21 |
| Photography | 6 | $1,306†‡ | $3,781 | 66.7% | 2024-09-25 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Carsten Nicolai's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (14 lots) median $730 with 57.1% sell-through. Paintings (3 lots) median $1,077, record $1,077.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $284–$937†‡ | $624†‡ | $5,040 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $5,040 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $4,655 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $3,902 |
| Photography | 2012 | $3,781 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $3,160 |
| Photography | 2024 | $1,679‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $326‡ |

‡ 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 Carsten Nicolai worth?

Across 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Carsten Nicolai work is $1,007. The median Carsten Nicolai print sells for $730 across 8 lots. The median Carsten Nicolai photograph sells for $1,306 across 4 lots. The median Carsten Nicolai sculpture sells for $3,902 across 3 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 Carsten Nicolai print?

Based on 8 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Carsten Nicolai print is $730. 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 Carsten Nicolai's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Carsten Nicolai print is $5,040.

### What is Carsten Nicolai's auction record?

Carsten Nicolai's auction record is $8,256, set in 2019.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Carsten Nicolai auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/carsten-nicolai (updated 2026-11-03).

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.