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

# Duane Michals (b. 1932)

## What is Duane Michals’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 213 auction results for Duane Michals at 31 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,651 including buyer’s premium (middle half $645–$3,556, n=41). The auction record is $26,000 for Narcissus (2017, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Most Beautiful Part of a Man's Body, 2000 | Cartes-de-visite | $20,160 | Phillips | Oct 2022 |
| 2 | I Build a Pyramid | Cartes-de-visite | $13,750 | Phillips | Apr 2017 |
| 3 | The Most Beautiful Part of a Woman's Body, 1932 | Cartes-de-visite | $13,750 | Christie's | Mar 2015 |
| 4 | Andy Warhol (triptych), 1932 | Three gelatin silver prints | $12,600 | Christie's | Oct 2007 |
| 5 | The Most Beautiful Part of a Man's Body, 1932 | Gelatin silver print, mounted on card | $12,016 | Christie's | Nov 2011 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Narcissus, 1932 | Photographs | $26,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2017 |
| 2 | Narcissus, 1932 | Ink | $18,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Aug 2020 |
| 3 | The Most Beautiful Part of a Man's Body, 1932 | Ink | $16,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2018 |
| 4 | Take One and See Mt. Fujiyama, 1932 | Gelatin silver prints | $15,000 | Christie's | Apr 2008 |
| 5 | Narcissus, 1985 | Silver prints | $13,970 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2026 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 13 | $4,000 |
| Photographs | 126 | $3,750 |
| Other | 51 | $1,920 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 162 | $3,500 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 213 results from 31 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Duane Michals is an American artist with 273 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $2,880. 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 Duane Michals sold in 2026 for $4,826, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Duane Michals work worth?

Across 213 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Duane Michals work is $2,880.

The median Duane Michals photograph sells for $3,024 across 184 lots.

The median Duane Michals print sells for $3,768 across 7 lots.

The median Duane Michals work on paper sells for $1,140 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Duane Michals photographs typically sell for $1,920–$5,849 (the middle half of 167 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 | 7 | $3,768 | $5,096 | — | 2026-10-15 |
| Paintings | 1 | $645 | $645 | — | 2026-09-26 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $1,140 | $2,200 | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Photography | 207 | $3,024†‡ | $26,000 | 88.9% | 2026-10-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 11 | $13,970 | $26,000 | — | 2026-02-05 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Duane Michals's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (7 lots) median $3,768. Paintings (1 lots) median $645, record $645. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 11 lots) the median is $13,970.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $3,385–$4,674 | $3,768 | $5,096 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 167 | $1,920–$5,849†‡ | $3,287†‡ | $26,000 |

† 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 | 2017 | $26,000 |
| Photography | 2022 | $20,160 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $5,096 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $4,826 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $2,200 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $645 |
| Works on Paper | 2002 | $80 |

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 Duane Michals worth?

Across 213 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Duane Michals work is $2,880. The median Duane Michals photograph sells for $3,024 across 184 lots. The median Duane Michals print sells for $3,768 across 7 lots. The median Duane Michals work on paper sells for $1,140 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Duane Michals photographs typically sell for $1,920–$5,849 (the middle half of 167 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 Duane Michals photograph?

Based on 184 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Duane Michals photograph is $3,024. 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 Duane Michals's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Duane Michals photograph is $26,000.

### What is the average price of a small Duane Michals photograph?

Based on 167 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Duane Michals photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,287, 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 Duane Michals's auction record?

Duane Michals's auction record is $26,000, set in 2017.

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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, “Duane Michals auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/duane-michals (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.