Donald Sultan (b. 1951)
What is Donald Sultan’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 844 auction results for Donald Sultan at 41 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,916 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,226–$4,092, n=138). The auction record is $98,426 for Big Red Lantern Flowers, April 16 (2020, Kunsthaus Lempertz). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Red Lantern Flowers, April 16, 2014 | Chrome steel | $98,426 | Kunsthaus Lempertz | Dec 2020 |
| 2 | Battery May 5, 1986, 1986 | Latex paint and tar on vinyl composite tile on Masonite laid down on panel in four parts | $87,500 | Christie's | Feb 2019 |
| 3 | Black Eggs | — | $67,000 | Sotheby's | Sep 2007 |
| 4 | Wisteria | — | $53,800 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| 5 | Three Old Limes and an Orange August 30 1988, 1988 | Wool | $47,500 | Wright | Mar 2018 |
| 6 | Seven Blue Flowers, 1999 | Charcoal sticks | $37,800 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Jun 2023 |
| 7 | Black and Blues, 2008 | Enamek, tar and spackle on tile over Masonite | $37,500 | Christie's | Mar 2004 |
| 8 | Two nectarines, a pear and an egg | — | $31,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 9 | Hollyhocks December 10 1992, 1992 | Masonite: 48 by 48 in. (121.9 by 121.9 cm.) | $30,240 | Sotheby's | Mar 2021 |
| 10 | Gladiolas in a Chinese Vase Nov 9 1989, 1989 | Oil paint | $30,000 | Phillips | Mar 2020 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 16 | $15,645 |
| Paintings | 25 | $10,080 |
| Other | 65 | $7,500 |
| Works on paper | 71 | $6,300 |
| Prints | 578 | $2,048 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 144 | $6,096 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 296 | $3,125 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 299 | $1,530 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 844 results from 41 houses · How we compute these figures
Donald Sultan is an American artist with 1,081 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $2,375. 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 Sultan is recorded as sold in 2026 for $2,481; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Donald Sultan works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Donald Sultan free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Donald Sultan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Donald Sultan on OpeningBid →What is a Donald Sultan work worth?
Across 831 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Donald Sultan work is $2,375.
The median Donald Sultan print sells for $1,935 across 632 lots.
The median Donald Sultan work on paper sells for $7,500 across 69 lots.
The median Donald Sultan painting sells for $4,228 across 29 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Donald Sultan prints typically sell for $832–$2,032 (the middle half of 272 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Donald Sultan prints typically sell for $1,625–$4,375 (the middle half of 257 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 | 758 | $1,935†‡ | $24,962 | 83.4% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 31 | $4,228†‡ | $87,500 | 93.5% | 2026-10-25 |
| Works on Paper | 76 | $7,500†‡ | $37,800 | 90.8% | 2026-07-02 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 25 | $15,645 | $98,426 | 72% | 2025-04-03 |
| Photography | 6 | $1,375‡ | $4,826 | — | 2025-11-04 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 48 | $21,420 | $98,426 | — | 2026-09-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Donald Sultan's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (758 lots) median $1,935 with 83.4% sell-through. Paintings (31 lots) median $4,228, record $87,500. A typical Donald Sultan painting sells for around 2.2× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 48 lots) the median is $21,420.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 272 | $832–$2,032†‡ | $1,270†‡ | $15,300 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 257 | $1,625–$4,375†‡ | $2,750†‡ | $24,962 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 92 | $2,019–$5,644†‡ | $4,000†‡ | $12,112 |
† 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) | 17 | $2,114–$3,926†‡ | $2,718†‡ | $16,450 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $14,955–$30,060 | $22,905 | $87,500 |
† 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) | 22 | $2,250–$5,012† | $2,460† | $13,750 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 19 | $5,292–$10,000 | $6,875 | $16,250 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 24 | $8,594–$16,250‡ | $12,950‡ | $37,800 |
† 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) | 6 | $5,499–$9,542 | $7,338 | $15,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $15,645–$19,055 | $17,640 | $23,750 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2020 | $98,426 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $87,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $37,800 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $30,240 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $24,962 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2016 | $23,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $22,680 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $20,160 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Donald Sultan worth?
Across 831 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Donald Sultan work is $2,375. The median Donald Sultan print sells for $1,935 across 632 lots. The median Donald Sultan work on paper sells for $7,500 across 69 lots. The median Donald Sultan painting sells for $4,228 across 29 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Donald Sultan prints typically sell for $832–$2,032 (the middle half of 272 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Donald Sultan prints typically sell for $1,625–$4,375 (the middle half of 257 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 Sultan print?
Based on 632 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Donald Sultan print is $1,935. 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 Sultan's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Donald Sultan print is $24,962.
What is the average price of a Donald Sultan work on paper?
Based on 69 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Donald Sultan work on paper is $7,500. 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 Donald Sultan's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Donald Sultan work on paper is $37,800.
What is the average price of a Donald Sultan painting?
Based on 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Donald Sultan painting is $4,228. 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 Sultan's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Donald Sultan painting is $87,500.
What is the average price of a small Donald Sultan print?
Based on 272 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Donald Sultan print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,270, 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 Sultan print?
Based on 257 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Donald Sultan print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,750, 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 Sultan's auction record?
Donald Sultan's auction record is $98,426, set in 2020.
See the full Donald Sultan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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