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

# Christian Boltanski (1944–2021)

## What is Christian Boltanski’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 149 auction results for Christian Boltanski at 29 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,675 including buyer’s premium (middle half $876–$7,228, n=8). The auction record is $185,732 for Demande au père Mariano (2022, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Le Reliquaire, 1988 | Eleven gelatin silver prints, steel frames, steel boxes, steel mesh, fabric, electric lamps and electric cable | $156,588 | Christie's | Feb 2006 |
| 2 | Monument (Odessa), 1989 | Seven biscuit boxes, fifteen gelatin silver prints, three color coupler prints, cloth and lamps | $138,000 | Christie's | Nov 2000 |
| 3 | Reliquaire, 1944 | Boîte en fer, lampe, photographie en noir et blanc, installation / | $123,282 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 4 | Reliquaire (Le Fête de Pourim), 1989 | 6 photographs, 6 screened boxes, 86 metal boxes and 6 lamps | $108,800 | Sotheby's | Jul 2026 |
| 5 | Monuments | 50 photographies encadrées par l'artiste et système d'éclairage électrique | $103,893 | Sotheby's | Dec 2009 |
| 6 | Shadows From the Lesson of Darkness | Metal, wax, oxidized copper and candles | $98,997 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| 7 | Théâtre d'ombres (Theatre of Shadows), 1985 | Installation | $88,874 | Christie's | Sep 2012 |
| 8 | Autel Chases, 1987 | 10 black and white photographs, 37 tin biscuit boxes and 10 lights | $81,900 | Christie's | Jul 2022 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Demande au père Mariano, 1994 | Wood box | $185,732 | Sotheby's | Dec 2022 |
| 2 | Monument, 1986 | Photographs, metal, light bulbs and electrical wires | $126,914 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 40 | $14,411 |
| Photographs | 66 | $11,836 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 33 | $46,258 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 20 | $6,785 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 45 | $4,339 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 149 results from 29 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Christian Boltanski is a French artist with 214 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $7,311. 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 Christian Boltanski sold in 2026 for $108,800, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Christian Boltanski work worth?

Across 148 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Christian Boltanski work is $7,311.

The median Christian Boltanski photograph sells for $9,701 across 84 lots.

The median Christian Boltanski print sells for $566 across 22 lots.

The median Christian Boltanski work on paper sells for $8,962 across 5 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Christian Boltanski photographs typically sell for $952–$5,232 (the middle half of 27 sold lots).

Large (over 120 cm) Christian Boltanski photographs typically sell for $30,417–$72,109 (the middle half of 27 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 | 28 | $566†‡ | $16,047 | 78.6% | 2026-07-05 |
| Works on Paper | 8 | $8,962 | $36,376 | 62.5% | 2022-12-07 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 7 | $28,559 | $156,588 | — | 2021-09-23 |
| Photography | 108 | $9,701†‡ | $138,000 | 77.8% | 2026-07-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $125,098 | $185,732 | — | 2026-07-07 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $444–$3,682†‡ | $676†‡ | $5,725 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $61–$560‡ | $504‡ | $3,712 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $18,118–$28,559 | $19,374 | $37,542 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 27 | $952–$5,232†‡ | $2,946†‡ | $45,409 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $6,259–$23,880†‡ | $14,254†‡ | $103,893 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 27 | $30,417–$72,109† | $46,763† | $138,000 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2006 | $156,588 |
| Photography | 2000 | $138,000 |
| Photography | 2022 | $126,914 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2016 | $62,397 |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $36,376 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $29,238 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $16,047 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $14,826 |

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 Christian Boltanski worth?

Across 148 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Christian Boltanski work is $7,311. The median Christian Boltanski photograph sells for $9,701 across 84 lots. The median Christian Boltanski print sells for $566 across 22 lots. The median Christian Boltanski work on paper sells for $8,962 across 5 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Christian Boltanski photographs typically sell for $952–$5,232 (the middle half of 27 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Christian Boltanski photographs typically sell for $30,417–$72,109 (the middle half of 27 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 Christian Boltanski photograph?

Based on 84 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Christian Boltanski photograph is $9,701. 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 Christian Boltanski's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Christian Boltanski photograph is $138,000.

### What is the average price of a Christian Boltanski print?

Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Christian Boltanski print is $566. 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 Christian Boltanski's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Christian Boltanski print is $16,047.

### What is the average price of a small Christian Boltanski photograph?

Based on 27 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Christian Boltanski photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,946, 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 large Christian Boltanski photograph?

Based on 27 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Christian Boltanski photograph (large (over 120 cm)) is $46,763, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Christian Boltanski's auction record?

Christian Boltanski's auction record is $185,732, set in 2022.

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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, “Christian Boltanski auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/christian-boltanski (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.