David Hammons (b. 1943)
What is David Hammons’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 105 auction results for David Hammons at 11 houses since 2001. Over the last 24 months the median price was $186,750 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,488–$1,122,375, n=8). The auction record is $8,005,000 for Untitled (crystal, brass, frosted glass, light fixtures, hardware and steel) (2013, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled (crystal, brass, frosted glass, light fixtures, hardware and steel), 2000 | Stainless steel | $8,005,000 | Phillips | Nov 2013 |
| 2 | It’s Not Necessary, 1990 | Wire basket, sheet music, tennis balls, crystals, nails and wire on fabric | $5,475,000 | Phillips | Jun 2021 |
| 3 | Untitled (Flight Fantasy), 1978 | Plaster | $3,922,000 | Christie's | Nov 2024 |
| 4 | Wall-mounted sculpture of 13 African masks, wood, metal, wire, rope, 2004 | Sculpture | $3,750,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 5 | Untitled (rubber tube, frying pans and metal chains), 1988 | Rubber tube, frying pans and metal chains | $3,660,000 | Phillips | Nov 2021 |
| 6 | Untitled (bamboo, phonograph record fragments, colored string and hair), 1978 | Bamboo, phonograph record fragments, colored string and hair | $3,525,000 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| 7 | Untitled | African masks, mirror and wire | $2,266,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2011 |
| 8 | Untitled (mixed media on canvas), 2009 | Mixed media on canvas | $2,188,000 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 9 | African-American Flag, 1990 | Dyed cotton | $2,050,000 | Phillips | May 2017 |
| 10 | African American Flag, 1990 | Color | $1,693,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 8 | $582,788 |
| Sculpture | 8 | $478,881 |
| Works on paper | 33 | $194,996 |
| Other | 31 | $50,000 |
| Prints | 14 | $4,386 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 19 | $1,657,500 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 37 | $161,000 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 36 | $6,200 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 105 results from 11 houses · How we compute these figures
David Hammons is an American artist with 125 auction lots recorded since 2001, median price $75,600. 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 David Hammons sold in 2026 for $335,400, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
3 David Hammons works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow David Hammons free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full David Hammons record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View David Hammons on OpeningBid →What is a David Hammons work worth?
Across 105 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a David Hammons work is $75,600.
The median David Hammons work on paper sells for $194,500 across 31 lots.
The median David Hammons print sells for $30,000 across 23 lots.
The median David Hammons photograph sells for $2,270 across 11 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 | 25 | $30,000 | $1.4M | 92% | 2026-10-20 |
| Paintings | 7 | $75,600 | $1.1M | — | 2026-05-02 |
| Works on Paper | 33 | $194,500 | $1.7M | 93.9% | 2026-05-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 9 | $2.3M | $8M | — | 2024-11-21 |
| Photography | 11 | $2,270†‡ | $6,500 | — | 2023-10-31 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 50 | $692,694 | $8M | — | 2026-05-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
David Hammons's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (25 lots) median $30,000 with 92% sell-through. Paintings (7 lots) median $75,600, record $1,088,000. A typical David Hammons painting sells for around 2.5× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 50 lots) the median is $692,694.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $2,375–$22,500 | $4,352 | $50,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $68,625–$548,604 | $137,500 | $1.4M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $4,020–$6,438 | $6,075 | $20,315 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $143,875–$862,500 | $362,750 | $1.4M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $264,600–$1.3M | $750,000 | $1.7M |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $1,762–$3,777†‡ | $2,538†‡ | $6,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $1,658–$2,500† | $1,677† | $4,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 | 2013 | $8M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $3.9M |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $1.7M |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $1.4M |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $1.4M |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $1.2M |
| Paintings | 2026 | $1.1M |
| Paintings | 2020 | $137,000 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a David Hammons worth?
Across 105 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a David Hammons work is $75,600. The median David Hammons work on paper sells for $194,500 across 31 lots. The median David Hammons print sells for $30,000 across 23 lots. The median David Hammons photograph sells for $2,270 across 11 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 David Hammons work on paper?
Based on 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a David Hammons work on paper is $194,500.
What is David Hammons's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a David Hammons work on paper is $1,693,500.
What is the average price of a David Hammons print?
Based on 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a David Hammons print is $30,000.
What is David Hammons's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a David Hammons print is $1,391,000.
What is the average price of a David Hammons photograph?
Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a David Hammons photograph is $2,270. 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 David Hammons's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a David Hammons photograph is $6,500.
What is the average price of a medium David Hammons work on paper?
Based on 14 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium David Hammons work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $362,750, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is the average price of a small David Hammons print?
Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a small David Hammons print (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,352, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is David Hammons's auction record?
David Hammons's auction record is $8,005,000, set in 2013.
See the full David Hammons record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View David Hammons on OpeningBid →