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

# Claes Oldenburg (1929–2022)

Claes Oldenburg is an American artist with 229 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $2,222. 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 is recorded as sold in 2022 for $3,222; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Claes Oldenburg work worth?

Across 191 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Claes Oldenburg work is $2,222.

The median Claes Oldenburg print sells for $1,624 across 141 lots.

The median Claes Oldenburg work on paper sells for $89,016 across 20 lots.

The median Claes Oldenburg sculpture sells for $95,353 across 16 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Claes Oldenburg prints typically sell for $823–$3,927 (the middle half of 74 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Claes Oldenburg prints typically sell for $809–$2,629 (the middle half of 43 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 | 159 | $1,624†‡ | $88,856 | 88.7% | 2026-05-13 |
| Paintings | 4 | $117,402 | $279,384 | 75% | 2016-05-11 |
| Works on Paper | 21 | $89,016 | $885,088 | 95.2% | 2020-06-30 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 17 | $95,353‡ | $613,899 | 94.1% | 2022-03-30 |
| Photography | 5 | $1,303 | $18,520 | — | 2002-11-21 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 18 | $169,523 | $885,088 | — | 2016-05-11 |

† 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 (159 lots) median $1,624 with 88.7% sell-through. Paintings (4 lots) median $117,402, record $279,384. A typical Claes Oldenburg painting sells for around 72× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 18 lots) the median is $169,523.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 43 | $809–$2,629†‡ | $1,538†‡ | $8,781 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 74 | $823–$3,927†‡ | $1,712†‡ | $88,856 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $2,905–$24,539 | $15,953 | $37,142 |

† 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) | 9 | $7,500–$104,088 | $21,250 | $308,413 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $86,852–$165,034 | $113,956 | $885,088 |

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $48,281–$147,468‡ | $96,808‡ | $558,912 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $6,365–$184,917 | $55,859 | $613,899 |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $885,088 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $706,949 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2006 | $613,899 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2006 | $558,912 |
| Paintings | 2006 | $279,384 |
| Paintings | 2016 | $117,402 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $88,856 |
| Prints & Editions | 2001 | $37,142 |

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 Claes Oldenburg worth?

Across 191 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Claes Oldenburg work is $2,222. The median Claes Oldenburg print sells for $1,624 across 141 lots. The median Claes Oldenburg work on paper sells for $89,016 across 20 lots. The median Claes Oldenburg sculpture sells for $95,353 across 16 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Claes Oldenburg prints typically sell for $823–$3,927 (the middle half of 74 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Claes Oldenburg prints typically sell for $809–$2,629 (the middle half of 43 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 141 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Claes Oldenburg print is $1,624. 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 $88,856.

### What is the average price of a Claes Oldenburg work on paper?

Based on 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Claes Oldenburg work on paper is $89,016.

### What is Claes Oldenburg's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Claes Oldenburg work on paper is $885,088.

### What is the average price of a Claes Oldenburg sculpture?

Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Claes Oldenburg sculpture is $95,353. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Claes Oldenburg's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Claes Oldenburg sculpture is $613,899.

### What is the average price of a medium Claes Oldenburg print?

Based on 74 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Claes Oldenburg print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,712, 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 43 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Claes Oldenburg print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,538, 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 $885,088, set in 2006.

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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, “Claes Oldenburg auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/claes-oldenburg (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.