> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/donald-friend · updated 2026-11-02

# Donald Friend (1915–1989)

## What is Donald Friend’s work worth? {#value}

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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 48 | $7,962 |
| Works on paper | 161 | $2,966 |
| Other | 14 | $620 |
| Prints | 24 | $307 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Donald Friend auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/donald-friend (updated 2026-11-02).

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.