Cy Twombly (1928–2011)
What is Cy Twombly’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 846 auction results for Cy Twombly at 57 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $34,156 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,032–$176,798, n=66). The auction record is $69,605,000 for Untitled (oil based house paint and wax crayon on canvas) (2014, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled (oil based house paint and wax crayon on canvas), 1970 | Painting | $69,605,000 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 2 | Leda and the Swan, 1962 | Painting | $52,887,500 | Christie's | May 2017 |
| 3 | Untitled (acrylic on canvas), 2005 | Acrylic paint | $46,437,500 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 4 | Untitled (oil-based house paint, wax crayon and lead pencil on canvas), 1969 | Painting | $42,725,000 | Christie's | May 2015 |
| 5 | Untitled, 2005 | Acrylic paint | $41,640,000 | Phillips | Nov 2022 |
| 6 | Untitled (Rome), 1970 | Painting | $41,628,000 | Sotheby's | May 2021 |
| 7 | Untitled [Bolsena], 1969 | Painting | $38,685,000 | Christie's | Oct 2020 |
| 8 | Untitled (oil based house paint and wax crayon on canvas), 1969 | Painting | $38,000,000 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 9 | Untitled (oil, wax crayon, graphite and colored pencil on canvas), 1961 | Painting | $32,000,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 10 | Sunset, 1957 | Painting | $27,312,500 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 95 | $3,243,302 |
| Sculpture | 13 | $1,650,500 |
| Works on paper | 169 | $288,695 |
| Other | 110 | $16,638 |
| Prints | 326 | $8,125 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 64 | $5,157,750 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 415 | $47,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 170 | $15,248 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 846 results from 57 houses · How we compute these figures
Cy Twombly is an American artist with 1,002 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $21,049. 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 Cy Twombly sold in 2026 for $166,400, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
10 Cy Twombly works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Cy Twombly free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Cy Twombly record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Cy Twombly on OpeningBid →What is a Cy Twombly work worth?
Across 846 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Cy Twombly work is $21,049.
The median Cy Twombly print sells for $7,393 across 453 lots.
The median Cy Twombly work on paper sells for $317,000 across 200 lots.
The median Cy Twombly painting sells for $3,701,945 across 72 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Cy Twombly prints typically sell for $4,060–$22,367 (the middle half of 326 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Cy Twombly work on papers typically sell for $256,438–$1,089,775 (the middle half of 114 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 | 489 | $7,393†‡ | $1.4M | 92.6% | 2026-08-06 |
| Paintings | 76 | $3.7M | $69.6M | 94.7% | 2026-10-22 |
| Works on Paper | 216 | $317,000†‡ | $38.7M | 92.6% | 2026-10-14 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 12 | $1.5M | $7.7M | — | 2024-11-20 |
| Photography | 10 | $6,259‡ | $11,226 | 80% | 2026-05-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 279 | $698,500‡ | $69.6M | — | 2026-10-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Cy Twombly's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (489 lots) median $7,393 with 92.6% sell-through. Paintings (76 lots) median $3,701,945, record $69,605,000. A typical Cy Twombly painting sells for around 501× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 279 lots) the median is $698,500.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 102 | $3,062–$13,538†‡ | $5,655†‡ | $180,265 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 326 | $4,060–$22,367†‡ | $7,530†‡ | $1.4M |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $719,760–$2.8M | $1.3M | $10.8M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 44 | $3.3M–$19.8M | $7.5M | $69.6M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 61 | $37,500–$122,500†‡ | $65,725†‡ | $3M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 114 | $256,438–$1.1M | $493,764 | $5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 16 | $691,396–$4.7M | $3.5M | $38.7M |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $1.1M–$2.5M | $1.7M | $2.7M |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2014 | $69.6M |
| Paintings | 2017 | $52.9M |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $38.7M |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $32M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2013 | $7.7M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $4.2M |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $1.4M |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $1.1M |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Cy Twombly worth?
Across 846 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Cy Twombly work is $21,049. The median Cy Twombly print sells for $7,393 across 453 lots. The median Cy Twombly work on paper sells for $317,000 across 200 lots. The median Cy Twombly painting sells for $3,701,945 across 72 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Cy Twombly prints typically sell for $4,060–$22,367 (the middle half of 326 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Cy Twombly work on papers typically sell for $256,438–$1,089,775 (the middle half of 114 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 Cy Twombly print?
Based on 453 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Cy Twombly print is $7,393. 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 Cy Twombly's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Cy Twombly print is $1,380,000.
What is the average price of a Cy Twombly work on paper?
Based on 200 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Cy Twombly work on paper is $317,000. 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 Cy Twombly's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Cy Twombly work on paper is $38,685,000.
What is the average price of a Cy Twombly painting?
Based on 72 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Cy Twombly painting is $3,701,945.
What is Cy Twombly's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Cy Twombly painting is $69,605,000.
What is the average price of a medium Cy Twombly print?
Based on 326 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Cy Twombly print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $7,530, 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 medium Cy Twombly work on paper?
Based on 114 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Cy Twombly work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $493,764, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Cy Twombly's auction record?
Cy Twombly's auction record is $69,605,000, set in 2014.
See the full Cy Twombly record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Cy Twombly on OpeningBid →