Claes Oldenburg (1929–2022)
What is Claes Oldenburg’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,191 auction results for Claes Oldenburg at 70 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,152 including buyer’s premium (middle half $654–$3,900, n=180). The auction record is $3,637,000 for Clothespin Ten Foot (2015, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clothespin Ten Foot, 1974 | Chrome steel | $3,637,000 | Christie's | Nov 2015 |
| 2 | Strong Arm, 1961 | Plaster | $2,292,500 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 3 | Typewriter Eraser, 1976 | Bronze | $2,210,500 | Christie's | May 2009 |
| 4 | Clothespin—45 Foot Version (Model), 1976-79 | Stainless steel | $2,063,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 5 | Soft Switches, 1964 | Sculpture | $1,941,000 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 6 | Yellow Girl's Dress | Enamel on plaster over muslin and wire | $1,721,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 7 | Typewriter Eraser, 1977 | Acrylic paint | $1,085,000 | Christie's | Nov 2015 |
| 8 | French Horns, Unwound and Entwined, 2005 | Chrome steel | $1,025,000 | Christie's | Nov 2013 |
| 9 | Light Switches--Hard Version, 1964 | Sculpture | $822,400 | Christie's | May 2006 |
| 10 | 24 Open-Faced Sandwiches, 1964 | Glass | $793,750 | Phillips | Nov 2024 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 153 | $13,750 |
| Paintings | 31 | $11,970 |
| Works on paper | 86 | $10,710 |
| Other | 79 | $6,875 |
| Prints | 653 | $1,143 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 53 | $6,875 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 364 | $3,219 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 535 | $1,372 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,191 results from 70 houses · How we compute these figures
Claes Oldenburg is an American artist with 1,543 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $1,560. 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 Claes Oldenburg sold in 2026 for $38,400, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Claes Oldenburg record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Claes Oldenburg on OpeningBid →What is a Claes Oldenburg work worth?
Across 1,177 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Claes Oldenburg work is $1,560.
The median Claes Oldenburg print sells for $1,075 across 786 lots.
The median Claes Oldenburg sculpture sells for $16,715 across 146 lots.
The median Claes Oldenburg work on paper sells for $12,356 across 92 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Claes Oldenburg prints typically sell for $681–$1,802 (the middle half of 490 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Claes Oldenburg prints typically sell for $510–$2,118 (the middle half of 239 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 | 967 | $1,075†‡ | $279,400 | 81.3% | 2026-10-20 |
| Paintings | 33 | $19,662 | $793,750 | 97% | 2026-09-18 |
| Works on Paper | 112 | $12,356†‡ | $201,600 | 82.1% | 2026-07-02 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 165 | $16,715†‡ | $3.6M | 88.5% | 2026-10-01 |
| Photography | 8 | $6,393‡ | $47,800 | 75% | 2025-07-31 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 59 | $265,000‡ | $3.6M | — | 2025-11-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Claes Oldenburg's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (967 lots) median $1,075 with 81.3% sell-through. Paintings (33 lots) median $19,662, record $793,750. A typical Claes Oldenburg painting sells for around 18× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 59 lots) the median is $265,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 239 | $510–$2,118†‡ | $912†‡ | $100,800 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 490 | $681–$1,802†‡ | $1,080†‡ | $20,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 35 | $1,688–$7,188† | $3,380† | $279,400 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 16 | $9,236–$26,576 | $11,756 | $134,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $83,950–$514,025 | $274,250 | $793,750 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $16,862–$101,125 | $26,788 | $200,000 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 47 | $4,405–$15,663†‡ | $8,820†‡ | $88,200 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 38 | $11,089–$36,308‡ | $23,894‡ | $201,600 |
† 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) | 88 | $4,478–$19,098†‡ | $8,226†‡ | $240,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 40 | $22,612–$284,375†‡ | $38,050†‡ | $2.3M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $236,125–$974,350 | $371,774 | $3.6M |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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) | 6 | $1,910–$11,258‡ | $6,393‡ | $47,800 |
‡ 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 | 2015 | $3.6M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $2.3M |
| Paintings | 2024 | $793,750 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $596,900 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $279,400 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $201,600 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $162,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $100,800 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Claes Oldenburg worth?
Across 1,177 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Claes Oldenburg work is $1,560. The median Claes Oldenburg print sells for $1,075 across 786 lots. The median Claes Oldenburg sculpture sells for $16,715 across 146 lots. The median Claes Oldenburg work on paper sells for $12,356 across 92 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Claes Oldenburg prints typically sell for $681–$1,802 (the middle half of 490 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Claes Oldenburg prints typically sell for $510–$2,118 (the middle half of 239 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 Claes Oldenburg print?
Based on 786 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Claes Oldenburg print is $1,075. 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 Claes Oldenburg's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Claes Oldenburg print is $279,400.
What is the average price of a Claes Oldenburg sculpture?
Based on 146 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Claes Oldenburg sculpture is $16,715. 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 Claes Oldenburg's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Claes Oldenburg sculpture is $3,637,000.
What is the average price of a Claes Oldenburg work on paper?
Based on 92 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Claes Oldenburg work on paper is $12,356. 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 Claes Oldenburg's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Claes Oldenburg work on paper is $201,600.
What is the average price of a medium Claes Oldenburg print?
Based on 490 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Claes Oldenburg print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,080, 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 small Claes Oldenburg print?
Based on 239 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Claes Oldenburg print (small (under 50 cm)) is $912, 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 Claes Oldenburg's auction record?
Claes Oldenburg's auction record is $3,637,000, set in 2015.
See the full Claes Oldenburg record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Claes Oldenburg on OpeningBid →