Danny Lyon (b. 1942)
What is Danny Lyon’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 183 auction results for Danny Lyon at 17 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,032 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,177–$2,951, n=31). The auction record is $56,250 for Conversations with the Dead (2009, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Bikeriders, 1987 | Gelatin silver prints | $52,500 | Christie's | Apr 2013 |
| 2 | The Bikeriders, 2006 | A suite of 50 gelatin silver prints, printed 2006 | $50,800 | Phillips | Apr 2024 |
| 3 | A portfolio of 40 Civil Rights photographs, 1942 | Photographs | $37,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2022 |
| 4 | The Destruction of Lower Manhattan, 1942 | Photographs | $32,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2023 |
| 5 | A portfolio entitled Danny Lyon, 1942 | Photographs | $30,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2017 |
| 6 | Policemen, Clarksdale, Mississippi, 1963 | Cartes-de-visite | $25,000 | Phillips | Oct 2016 |
| 7 | Selected Images of Bikeriders and Chicago, 1965 | Nine gelatin silver prints, printed circa 1965-1984 | $25,000 | Phillips | Oct 2018 |
| 8 | Uptown, 1999 | Twenty-four gelatin silver prints, printed 1999 | $21,590 | Phillips | Oct 2024 |
| 9 | Selected Images, 1995 | Cartes-de-visite | $20,000 | Phillips | Oct 2019 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conversations with the Dead, 1942 | Gelatin silver prints | $56,250 | Christie's | Mar 2009 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 7 | $3,840 |
| Photographs | 132 | $2,919 |
| Other | 36 | $2,265 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 157 | $3,000 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 183 results from 17 houses · How we compute these figures
Danny Lyon is an American artist with 260 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $2,640. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.
A work by Danny Lyon sold in 2026 for $3,096, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Danny Lyon record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Danny Lyon on OpeningBid →What is a Danny Lyon work worth?
Across 181 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Danny Lyon work is $2,640.
The median Danny Lyon photograph sells for $2,805 across 161 lots.
The median Danny Lyon print sells for $2,540 across 7 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Danny Lyon photographs typically sell for $1,900–$4,826 (the middle half of 145 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 | 9 | $2,540 | $13,750 | 77.8% | 2026-10-15 |
| Photography | 191 | $2,805† | $56,250 | 84.3% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 10 | $31,250 | $56,250 | — | 2024-10-09 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $2,064–$8,542 | $5,020 | $13,750 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 145 | $1,900–$4,826† | $3,024† | $56,250 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2009 | $56,250 |
| Photography | 2013 | $52,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $13,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $8,890 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Danny Lyon worth?
Across 181 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Danny Lyon work is $2,640. The median Danny Lyon photograph sells for $2,805 across 161 lots. The median Danny Lyon print sells for $2,540 across 7 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Danny Lyon photographs typically sell for $1,900–$4,826 (the middle half of 145 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 Danny Lyon photograph?
Based on 161 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Danny Lyon photograph is $2,805. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Danny Lyon's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Danny Lyon photograph is $56,250.
What is the average price of a small Danny Lyon photograph?
Based on 145 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Danny Lyon photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,024, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Danny Lyon's auction record?
Danny Lyon's auction record is $56,250, set in 2009.
See the full Danny Lyon record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Danny Lyon on OpeningBid →