> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/dawoud-bey · updated 2026-11-03

# Dawoud Bey (b. 1953)

## What is Dawoud Bey’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 65 auction results for Dawoud Bey at 11 houses since 2009. Over the last 24 months the median price was $4,500 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,432–$8,255, n=29). The auction record is $50,800 for Untitled #25 (Lake Erie and Sky) from Night Coming Tenderly, Black (2023, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled #25 (Lake Erie and Sky) from Night Coming Tenderly, Black, 2017 | Cartes-de-visite | $50,800 | Phillips | Oct 2023 |
| 2 | Eugene | Unique Polaroid triptych, mounted | $35,000 | Phillips | Oct 2020 |
| 3 | Birmingham: Four Girls, Two Boys, 2014 | Stephen Daiter Gallery: Chicago, 2014. Six pigment prints | $31,500 | Phillips | Oct 2022 |
| 4 | Sara | Unique Polaroid print triptych | $27,720 | Phillips | Oct 2021 |
| 5 | Monique II, 1999 | Polacolor ER print, triptych | $26,460 | Phillips | Dec 2020 |
| 6 | Amishi | Four Polaroid prints | $20,000 | Phillips | Oct 2018 |
| 7 | Marc & Eric, 1994 | Polaroid print polyptych | $19,050 | Phillips | Apr 2024 |
| 8 | Toyia, Kelvin, and Erica, 1994 | Ink | $16,510 | Rago Arts | Jun 2025 |
| 9 | Untitled (triptych), 1992 | Ink | $16,510 | Rago Arts | Jun 2025 |
| 10 | Martina and Her Grandmother, Chicago, 1994 | Signed 'Dawoud Bey' (on a paper label affixed to the reverse of the upper leftmost panel) | $16,380 | Christie's | Jun 2010 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 22 | $6,500 |
| Photographs | 33 | $5,500 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 27 | $8,255 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $3,000 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 65 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Dawoud Bey is an American artist with 84 auction lots recorded since 2009, median price $5,207. 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 Dawoud Bey sold in 2025 for $8,255, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Dawoud Bey work worth?

Across 65 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Dawoud Bey work is $5,207.

The median Dawoud Bey photograph sells for $5,000 across 35 lots.

The median Dawoud Bey work on paper sells for $8,255 across 11 lots.

The median Dawoud Bey print sells for $26,460 across 4 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 | 4 | $26,460 | $31,500 | — | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 11 | $8,255 | $16,510 | — | 2026-03-10 |
| Photography | 40 | $5,000† | $50,800 | 87.5% | 2026-01-22 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $33,250 | $50,800 | — | 2023-10-11 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

## Price by size

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $7,207–$12,224 | $9,440 | $16,510 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 16 | $1,955–$4,812† | $3,750† | $6,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 15 | $5,608–$17,715 | $7,620 | $35,000 |

† 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 | 2023 | $50,800 |
| Photography | 2020 | $35,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $31,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $26,460 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $16,510 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $16,510 |

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 Dawoud Bey worth?

Across 65 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Dawoud Bey work is $5,207. The median Dawoud Bey photograph sells for $5,000 across 35 lots. The median Dawoud Bey work on paper sells for $8,255 across 11 lots. The median Dawoud Bey print sells for $26,460 across 4 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 Dawoud Bey photograph?

Based on 35 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dawoud Bey photograph is $5,000. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Dawoud Bey's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Dawoud Bey photograph is $50,800.

### What is the average price of a Dawoud Bey work on paper?

Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dawoud Bey work on paper is $8,255.

### What is Dawoud Bey's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Dawoud Bey work on paper is $16,510.

### What is the average price of a small Dawoud Bey photograph?

Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Dawoud Bey photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,750, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a medium Dawoud Bey photograph?

Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Dawoud Bey photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $7,620, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Dawoud Bey's auction record?

Dawoud Bey's auction record is $50,800, set in 2023.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Dawoud Bey auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/dawoud-bey (updated 2026-11-03).

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.