Dennis Oppenheim (1938–2011)
What is Dennis Oppenheim’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 170 auction results for Dennis Oppenheim at 35 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,667 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,396–$6,403, n=16). The auction record is $123,039 for Heavy Dog Kiss (2019, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy Dog Kiss, 1993 | Bronze | $123,039 | Phillips | Mar 2019 |
| 2 | SALT FLAT (PART I), 1968 | Signé et daté à la verticale en bas vers le centre droit "Dennis Oppenheim | $27,437 | Artcurial | Mar 2021 |
| 3 | STAGES 1 AND 2-READING POSITION FOR SECOND DEGREE BURN-SKIN-BOOK-SUN, 1970 | Phototexte et deux tirages chromogéniques montés sur carton | $27,137 | Artcurial | May 2010 |
| 4 | ATTEMPT TO RAISE HELL, 1974 | Figure avec mécanisme, cloche métallique, spot | $23,569 | Artcurial | Dec 2009 |
| 5 | Proposal for Black Skin - Black Walls, 1975 | Diptych—pastel, charcoal, graphite, black and white photographic collage, chromogenic print collage and printed paper collage on paper laid down on board | $17,500 | Christie's | Dec 2018 |
| 6 | TIME POCKET, 1968 | Technique mixte et collage sur papier | $16,970 | Artcurial | Dec 2009 |
| 7 | PROJECT FOR FROZEN LAKE - AROOSTOOK CO. MAINE, 1968 | Signé et daté en bas à droite "Dennis Oppenheim | $16,451 | Artcurial | Dec 2021 |
| 8 | Ground Gel, 1972 | Cartes-de-visite | $16,204 | Kunsthaus Lempertz | Jun 2023 |
| 9 | Tank skid, 1977 | Tecnica mista su poliplat | $14,758 | Finarte Casa d'Aste | Jun 2019 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | READING POSITION FOR SECOND DEGREE BURN, 1970 | C-print | $32,670 | Sotheby's | Dec 2019 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 14 | $7,850 |
| Works on paper | 26 | $5,641 |
| Other | 34 | $5,496 |
| Prints | 29 | $645 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 43 | $5,481 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $3,528 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 44 | $2,975 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 170 results from 35 houses · How we compute these figures
Dennis Oppenheim is an American artist with 266 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $3,840. 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 Dennis Oppenheim sold in 2026 for $4,580, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Dennis Oppenheim work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Dennis Oppenheim free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Dennis Oppenheim record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Dennis Oppenheim on OpeningBid →What is a Dennis Oppenheim work worth?
Across 168 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Dennis Oppenheim work is $3,840.
The median Dennis Oppenheim print sells for $525 across 37 lots.
The median Dennis Oppenheim work on paper sells for $5,036 across 33 lots.
The median Dennis Oppenheim photograph sells for $7,575 across 25 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Dennis Oppenheim prints typically sell for $229–$1,270 (the middle half of 30 sold lots).
Large (over 120 cm) Dennis Oppenheim work on papers typically sell for $3,939–$6,193 (the middle half of 26 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 | 46 | $525‡ | $8,833 | 80.4% | 2026-06-19 |
| Paintings | 4 | $6,361 | $123,039 | — | 2023-12-10 |
| Works on Paper | 38 | $5,036†‡ | $27,437 | 86.8% | 2026-04-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 3 | $6,250 | $6,250 | 33.3% | 2012-05-06 |
| Photography | 27 | $7,575†‡ | $32,670 | 92.6% | 2025-10-14 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 9 | $23,569 | $123,039 | — | 2023-06-07 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Dennis Oppenheim's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (46 lots) median $525 with 80.4% sell-through. Paintings (4 lots) median $6,361, record $123,039. A typical Dennis Oppenheim painting sells for around 12× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 9 lots) the median is $23,569.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 30 | $229–$1,270‡ | $450‡ | $8,030 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $1,205–$5,993 | $3,840 | $8,833 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 26 | $3,939–$6,193†‡ | $4,764†‡ | $14,075 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $2,477–$4,662 | $3,316 | $8,125 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $5,827–$13,364†‡ | $8,517†‡ | $32,670 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2019 | $123,039 |
| Photography | 2019 | $32,670 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $27,437 |
| Photography | 2010 | $27,137 |
| Works on Paper | 2009 | $16,970 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $8,833 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $8,757 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $8,030 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Dennis Oppenheim worth?
Across 168 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Dennis Oppenheim work is $3,840. The median Dennis Oppenheim print sells for $525 across 37 lots. The median Dennis Oppenheim work on paper sells for $5,036 across 33 lots. The median Dennis Oppenheim photograph sells for $7,575 across 25 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Dennis Oppenheim prints typically sell for $229–$1,270 (the middle half of 30 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Dennis Oppenheim work on papers typically sell for $3,939–$6,193 (the middle half of 26 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 Dennis Oppenheim print?
Based on 37 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dennis Oppenheim print is $525. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Dennis Oppenheim's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Dennis Oppenheim print is $8,833.
What is the average price of a Dennis Oppenheim work on paper?
Based on 33 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dennis Oppenheim work on paper is $5,036. 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 Dennis Oppenheim's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Dennis Oppenheim work on paper is $27,437.
What is the average price of a Dennis Oppenheim photograph?
Based on 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dennis Oppenheim photograph is $7,575. 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 Dennis Oppenheim's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Dennis Oppenheim photograph is $32,670.
What is the average price of a medium Dennis Oppenheim print?
Based on 30 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Dennis Oppenheim print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $450, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a large Dennis Oppenheim work on paper?
Based on 26 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Dennis Oppenheim work on paper (large (over 120 cm)) is $4,764, 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 Dennis Oppenheim's auction record?
Dennis Oppenheim's auction record is $123,039, set in 2019.
See the full Dennis Oppenheim record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Dennis Oppenheim on OpeningBid →