Diane Arbus (1923–1971)
What is Diane Arbus’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 599 auction results for Diane Arbus at 27 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $8,190 including buyer’s premium (middle half $5,000–$16,510, n=89). The auction record is $1,197,000 for Identical twins, (Cathleen and Colleen), Roselle, New Jersey, 1966 (2024, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identical twins, (Cathleen and Colleen), Roselle, New Jersey, 1966, 1923 | Cartes-de-visite | $1,197,000 | Christie's | May 2024 |
| 2 | Identical twins, Roselle, N.J., 1966, 1966 | Cartes-de-visite | $732,500 | Christie's | Oct 2018 |
| 3 | Identical twins, Roselle, N.J, 1966 | Cartes-de-visite | $636,743 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 4 | Identical twins, Roselle, N.J., 1923 | Cartes-de-visite | $630,000 | Christie's | Feb 2025 |
| 5 | Child with a toy hand grenade in Central Park, N.Y.C., 1962, 1923 | Cartes-de-visite | $625,000 | Christie's | Oct 2021 |
| 6 | Identical Twins Cathleen (l) and Colleen, Roselle, N.J. | Cartes-de-visite | $602,500 | Phillips | Apr 2013 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A box of ten photographs, 1973 | Cartes-de-visite | $1,008,000 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 2 | A box of ten photographs, 1970 | Cartes-de-visite | $792,500 | Christie's | Apr 2018 |
| 3 | Identical Twins, Roselle, N. J., 1966 | Cartes-de-visite | $698,500 | Sotheby's | Oct 2025 |
| 4 | Identical twins, Roselle, N. J., 1966 | Gelatin silver print | $693,000 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 16 | $18,105 |
| Works on paper | 5 | $15,000 |
| Photographs | 535 | $12,500 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 528 | $12,500 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $9,026 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 599 results from 27 houses · How we compute these figures
Diane Arbus is an American artist with 770 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $12,000. 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 Diane Arbus sold in 2026 for $25,600, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Diane Arbus record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Diane Arbus on OpeningBid →What is a Diane Arbus work worth?
Across 598 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Diane Arbus work is $12,000.
The median Diane Arbus photograph sells for $12,500 across 547 lots.
The median Diane Arbus print sells for $1,362 across 4 lots.
The median Diane Arbus work on paper sells for $119,750 across 2 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Diane Arbus photographs typically sell for $8,125–$26,400 (the middle half of 516 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 | 6 | $1,362‡ | $2,904 | 66.7% | 2026-09-24 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $119,750 | $192,000 | — | 2015-03-31 |
| Photography | 649 | $12,500†‡ | $1.2M | 84.3% | 2026-10-22 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 40 | $249,500 | $1.2M | — | 2026-04-08 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 516 | $8,125–$26,400†‡ | $12,510†‡ | $1.2M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $6,719–$11,219† | $9,393† | $24,673 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2024 | $1.2M |
| Photography | 2023 | $1M |
| Works on Paper | 2005 | $192,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $47,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $2,904 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $1,724 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Diane Arbus worth?
Across 598 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Diane Arbus work is $12,000. The median Diane Arbus photograph sells for $12,500 across 547 lots. The median Diane Arbus print sells for $1,362 across 4 lots. The median Diane Arbus work on paper sells for $119,750 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Diane Arbus photographs typically sell for $8,125–$26,400 (the middle half of 516 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 Diane Arbus photograph?
Based on 547 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Diane Arbus photograph is $12,500. 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 Diane Arbus's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Diane Arbus photograph is $1,197,000.
What is the average price of a small Diane Arbus photograph?
Based on 516 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Diane Arbus photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $12,510, 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 Diane Arbus's auction record?
Diane Arbus's auction record is $1,197,000, set in 2024.
See the full Diane Arbus record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Diane Arbus on OpeningBid →