Charles Alston (1907–1977)
Charles Alston is an American artist with 71 auction lots recorded since 2006, median price $5,000. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.
A work by Charles Alston sold in 2025 for $95,250, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Charles Alston record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Charles Alston on OpeningBid →What is a Charles Alston work worth?
Across 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Charles Alston work is $5,000.
The median Charles Alston work on paper sells for $3,735 across 28 lots.
The median Charles Alston painting sells for $27,300 across 14 lots.
The median Charles Alston print sells for $3,500 across 3 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Charles Alston work on papers typically sell for $3,000–$9,405 (the middle half of 22 sold lots).
Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 3 | $3,500† | $6,000 | — | 2022-03-12 |
| Paintings | 18 | $27,300 | $215,900 | 77.8% | 2025-09-26 |
| Works on Paper | 30 | $3,735† | $24,000 | 93.3% | 2026-09-21 |
| Photography | 1 | $3,200 | $3,200 | — | 2007-10-04 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $189,000 | $215,900 | — | 2024-05-15 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Charles Alston's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3 lots) median $3,500. Paintings (18 lots) median $27,300, record $215,900. A typical Charles Alston painting sells for around 7.8× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $189,000.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $21,450–$78,938 | $27,300 | $189,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $137,000–$197,000 | $173,000 | $215,900 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $3,000–$9,405† | $4,468† | $24,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $2,375–$3,870† | $3,250† | $5,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2024 | $215,900 |
| Paintings | 2020 | $197,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $24,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $21,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2008 | $6,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $3,500† |
| Photography | 2007 | $3,200 |
† 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 Charles Alston worth?
Across 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Charles Alston work is $5,000. The median Charles Alston work on paper sells for $3,735 across 28 lots. The median Charles Alston painting sells for $27,300 across 14 lots. The median Charles Alston print sells for $3,500 across 3 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Charles Alston work on papers typically sell for $3,000–$9,405 (the middle half of 22 sold lots). Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a Charles Alston work on paper?
Based on 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Charles Alston work on paper is $3,735. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Charles Alston's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Charles Alston work on paper is $24,000.
What is the average price of a Charles Alston painting?
Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Charles Alston painting is $27,300.
What is Charles Alston's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Charles Alston painting is $215,900.
What is the average price of a small Charles Alston work on paper?
Based on 22 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Charles Alston work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,468, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Charles Alston's auction record?
Charles Alston's auction record is $215,900, set in 2024.
See the full Charles Alston record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Charles Alston on OpeningBid →