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

# Christian Marclay (b. 1955)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 120 auction results for Christian Marclay at 17 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,214 including buyer’s premium (middle half $628–$5,966, n=14). The auction record is $190,044 for Actions: Smak Squish Splsh (No. 5) (2023, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Actions: Smak Squish Splsh (No. 5), 2013 | Acrylic paint | $190,044 | Christie's | Oct 2023 |
| 2 | MEMENTO (UB40), 2008 | Cyanotype with unspooled cassette tapes | $162,500 | Sotheby's | Apr 2020 |
| 3 | Actions: Sploosh Whooosh Blub Blub Blub Blub (No. 2), 2013 | Acrylic and screenprint on canvas | $157,500 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 4 | Hats (From the series, Body Mix), 1991 | Record cover collage and thread | $137,000 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 5 | Yellow Silence (The Electric Chair) | Acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas | $124,207 | Sotheby's | Oct 2011 |
| 6 | Dictators, 1990 | Record covers and screws | $106,250 | Phillips | Mar 2020 |
| 7 | Just Take My Body (Body Mix Series), 1991 | Album covers, thread | $106,250 | Phillips | Nov 2014 |
| 8 | Music (from the series 'Mask'), 1992 | Record covers and cotton thread | $104,500 | Christie's | Nov 2010 |
| 9 | Untitled (Luciano Pavarotti, Halo and Four Mix Tapes II), 2008 | Unique cyanotype on Aquarelle Arches Natural White Hot Press Watercolor Paper | $102,500 | Phillips | Oct 2017 |
| 10 | Stool, 1992 | Painted wood | $101,600 | Sotheby's | Feb 2024 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 5 | $124,207 |
| Works on paper | 22 | $22,500 |
| Other | 55 | $12,700 |
| Prints | 15 | $7,620 |
| Sculpture | 5 | $5,625 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 22 | $45,625 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 39 | $32,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 34 | $2,569 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 120 results from 17 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Christian Marclay is an American artist with 163 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $12,643. 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 Marclay sold in 2026 for $16,640, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Christian Marclay work worth?

Across 120 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Christian Marclay work is $12,643.

The median Christian Marclay print sells for $9,932 across 41 lots.

The median Christian Marclay photograph sells for $6,195 across 17 lots.

The median Christian Marclay work on paper sells for $43,750 across 12 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 | 60 | $9,932†‡ | $157,500 | 68.3% | 2026-09-12 |
| Paintings | 4 | $157,125 | $190,044 | 50% | 2023-10-19 |
| Works on Paper | 12 | $43,750 | $102,500 | — | 2026-04-22 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 5 | $1,071‡ | $15,027 | — | 2023-10-31 |
| Photography | 19 | $6,195† | $162,500 | 89.5% | 2026-07-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 10 | $115,228 | $190,044 | — | 2024-02-29 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Christian Marclay's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (60 lots) median $9,932 with 68.3% sell-through. Paintings (4 lots) median $157,125, record $190,044. A typical Christian Marclay painting sells for around 16× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 10 lots) the median is $115,228.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $742–$3,750†‡ | $1,512†‡ | $42,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 19 | $3,917–$23,375‡ | $8,818‡ | $52,299 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $17,407–$45,938 | $32,622 | $157,500 |

† 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) | 5 | $8,820–$21,600 | $10,000 | $60,480 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $49,206–$75,000 | $52,500 | $102,500 |

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $757–$1,638‡ | $1,071‡ | $15,027 |

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

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $758–$5,250† | $1,000† | $11,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $12,700–$37,500 | $22,500 | $42,748 |

† 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 | 2023 | $190,044 |
| Photography | 2020 | $162,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $157,500 |
| Paintings | 2011 | $124,207 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $102,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $75,696 |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $75,000 |
| Photography | 2013 | $47,500 |

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 Marclay worth?

Across 120 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Christian Marclay work is $12,643. The median Christian Marclay print sells for $9,932 across 41 lots. The median Christian Marclay photograph sells for $6,195 across 17 lots. The median Christian Marclay work on paper sells for $43,750 across 12 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 Marclay print?

Based on 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Christian Marclay print is $9,932. 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 Marclay's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Christian Marclay print is $157,500.

### What is the average price of a Christian Marclay photograph?

Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Christian Marclay photograph is $6,195. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Christian Marclay's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Christian Marclay photograph is $162,500.

### What is the average price of a Christian Marclay work on paper?

Based on 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Christian Marclay work on paper is $43,750.

### What is Christian Marclay's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Christian Marclay work on paper is $102,500.

### What is the average price of a medium Christian Marclay print?

Based on 19 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Christian Marclay print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,818, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a large Christian Marclay print?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Christian Marclay print (large (over 120 cm)) is $32,622, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

Christian Marclay's auction record is $190,044, set in 2023.

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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 Marclay auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/christian-marclay (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.