Donald Friend (1915–1989)
What is Donald Friend’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 610 auction results for Donald Friend at 20 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,226 including buyer’s premium (middle half $476–$4,858, n=98). The auction record is $128,594 for The Motley Jacket, Ischia (2003, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Motley Jacket, Ischia, 1950 | Oil on canvas | $128,594 | Christie's | Aug 2003 |
| 2 | AUSTRALIAN FANTASY, 1964 | Oil and gold leaf on composition board | $94,192 | Deutscher and Hackett | Jun 2026 |
| 3 | Untitled, circa 1956 | Oil on canvas | $71,907 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 4 | DOUBLE BAY, 1956 | Oil on canvas | $55,997 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2019 |
| 5 | Houses on Big Oakey, 1948 | Oil on canvas on board | $40,240 | Smith & Singer | Aug 2026 |
| 6 | Vel Festival, Toy Seller, Ceylon, 1961 | Watercolour and ink on paper | $36,358 | Smith & Singer | Nov 2025 |
| 7 | Lucky Digger Hotel, Hill End, 1953 | Oil on canvas | $36,316 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2016 |
| 8 | Fortune Teller's Booth, Ceylon, 1961 | Ink, watercolour and gouache on paper | $35,920 | Smith & Singer | Apr 2026 |
| 9 | LUCKY DIGGER HOTEL, HILL END, 1953 | Oil on canvas | $34,460 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2016 |
| 10 | Bacchanalian Scene | Oil on canvas on board | $30,389 | Christie's | Aug 2004 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 48 | $7,962 |
| Works on paper | 161 | $2,966 |
| Other | 14 | $620 |
| Prints | 24 | $307 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 115 | $5,970 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 129 | $1,251 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 610 results from 20 houses · How we compute these figures
Donald Friend is an Australian artist with 870 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $2,811. 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 Donald Friend sold in 2026 for $3,205, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Donald Friend record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Donald Friend on OpeningBid →What is a Donald Friend work worth?
Across 573 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Donald Friend work is $2,811.
The median Donald Friend work on paper sells for $2,186 across 365 lots.
The median Donald Friend painting sells for $9,405 across 95 lots.
The median Donald Friend print sells for $242 across 73 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Donald Friend work on papers typically sell for $563–$2,750 (the middle half of 228 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Donald Friend work on papers typically sell for $2,802–$8,323 (the middle half of 136 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 | 89 | $242†‡ | $24,409 | 82% | 2026-08-05 |
| Paintings | 128 | $9,405†‡ | $128,594 | 74.2% | 2026-08-25 |
| Works on Paper | 558 | $2,186†‡ | $62,726‡ | 65.4% | 2026-09-22 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 9 | $7,083‡ | $25,845 | 88.9% | 2023-10-27 |
| Photography | 2 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 30 | $36,711†‡ | $128,594 | — | 2026-08-25 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Donald Friend's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (89 lots) median $242 with 82% sell-through. Paintings (128 lots) median $9,405, record $128,594. A typical Donald Friend painting sells for around 39× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 30 lots) the median is $36,711.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 41 | $145–$320† | $201† | $2,494 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 29 | $131–$371†‡ | $247†‡ | $24,409 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 33 | $4,796–$23,662†‡ | $7,661†‡ | $52,270† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 60 | $5,778–$27,490†‡ | $9,993†‡ | $128,594 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 228 | $563–$2,750†‡ | $1,227†‡ | $19,388‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 136 | $2,802–$8,323†‡ | $4,513†‡ | $62,726‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $6,206–$8,508‡ | $6,843‡ | $10,264‡ |
‡ 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 | 2003 | $128,594 |
| Paintings | 2015 | $106,915† |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $62,726‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $54,742‡ |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $25,845 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $24,409 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2013 | $10,264‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $5,084 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Donald Friend worth?
Across 573 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Donald Friend work is $2,811. The median Donald Friend work on paper sells for $2,186 across 365 lots. The median Donald Friend painting sells for $9,405 across 95 lots. The median Donald Friend print sells for $242 across 73 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Donald Friend work on papers typically sell for $563–$2,750 (the middle half of 228 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Donald Friend work on papers typically sell for $2,802–$8,323 (the middle half of 136 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 Donald Friend work on paper?
Based on 365 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Donald Friend work on paper is $2,186. 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 Donald Friend's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Donald Friend work on paper is $62,726. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a Donald Friend painting?
Based on 95 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Donald Friend painting is $9,405. 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 Donald Friend's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Donald Friend painting is $128,594.
What is the average price of a Donald Friend print?
Based on 73 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Donald Friend print is $242. 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 Donald Friend's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Donald Friend print is $24,409.
What is the average price of a small Donald Friend work on paper?
Based on 228 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Donald Friend work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,227, 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 the average price of a medium Donald Friend work on paper?
Based on 136 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Donald Friend work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,513, 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 Donald Friend's auction record?
Donald Friend's auction record is $128,594, set in 2003.
See the full Donald Friend record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Donald Friend on OpeningBid →