> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ed-mell · updated 2026-11-03

# Ed Mell (1942–2024)

## What is Ed Mell’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 117 auction results for Ed Mell at 14 houses since 2013. Over the last 24 months the median price was $17,000 including buyer’s premium (middle half $7,688–$20,570, n=11). The auction record is $87,500 for Jack Knife (2016, Bonhams). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Knife, 1942 | Painting | $87,500 | Bonhams | Nov 2016 |
| 2 | Shadowed Walls | Oil on canvas | $68,750 | Capsule Gallery Auction | May 2022 |
| 3 | Green Mountain | Oil on canvas | $43,750 | Freeman's Hindman | Nov 2021 |
| 4 | Mesa’s Flames, 2017 | Oil on canvas laid on board | $36,300 | Coeur d'Alene Art Auction | Jul 2026 |
| 5 | Two Petunias, 1990 | Oil paint | $33,020 | Phillips | Sep 2023 |
| 6 | Coal Mine Canyon Walls, 2005 | Painting | $32,760 | Toomey & Co. | Jul 2023 |
| 7 | Sunset Vishnu Temple, 1942 | Painting | $32,500 | Bonhams | Nov 2016 |
| 8 | Night Storm, 1942 | Painting | $31,250 | Bonhams | Apr 2017 |
| 9 | Chinle Dusk, 1942 | Oil on linen | $25,000 | Bonhams | Aug 2017 |
| 10 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1990 | Oil paint | $22,860 | Phillips | Sep 2023 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 20 | $22,320 |
| Prints | 15 | $1,750 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $32,890 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $17,000 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 17 | $1,952 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 117 results from 14 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Ed Mell is an American artist with 132 auction lots recorded since 2013, median price $7,440. 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 Ed Mell sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $20,000 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**3 Ed Mell works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-03).

- [Ed Mell on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ed-mell?ref=kg:ed-mell) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Ed Mell work worth?

Across 116 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ed Mell work is $7,440.

The median Ed Mell painting sells for $23,430 across 34 lots.

The median Ed Mell print sells for $1,700 across 31 lots.

The median Ed Mell sculpture sells for $13,500 across 6 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 | 31 | $1,700† | $8,125† | — | 2026-10-17 |
| Paintings | 36 | $23,430† | $140,000† | 94.4% | 2026-10-17 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $8,900† | $10,000† | — | 2026-10-17 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 6 | $13,500† | $30,000† | — | 2026-10-17 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $101,850† | $140,000† | — | 2026-10-17 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Ed Mell's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (31 lots) median $1,700. Paintings (36 lots) median $23,430, record $140,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $140,000 (buyer's premium not included). A typical Ed Mell painting sells for around 14× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 6 lots) the median is $101,850.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $2,312–$5,500† | $3,900† | $8,125† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 19 | $1,000–$2,625† | $1,536† | $7,995 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $15,368–$22,335† | $20,285† | $36,300 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 12 | $14,250–$43,125† | $18,940† | $140,000† |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $32,565–$82,812† | $39,010† | $110,000† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $8,125–$23,000† | $13,500† | $30,000† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2026 | $140,000† |
| Paintings | 2026 | $110,000† |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2026 | $30,000† |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2026 | $25,000† |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $10,000† |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $8,125† |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $7,995 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $7,800† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Ed Mell worth?

Across 116 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ed Mell work is $7,440. The median Ed Mell painting sells for $23,430 across 34 lots. The median Ed Mell print sells for $1,700 across 31 lots. The median Ed Mell sculpture sells for $13,500 across 6 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 Ed Mell painting?

Based on 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ed Mell painting is $23,430. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Ed Mell's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ed Mell painting is $140,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $140,000 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a Ed Mell print?

Based on 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ed Mell print is $1,700. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Ed Mell's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ed Mell print is $8,125. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $8,125 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a medium Ed Mell print?

Based on 19 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ed Mell print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,536, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a medium Ed Mell painting?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ed Mell painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $18,940, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Ed Mell's auction record?

Ed Mell's auction record is $140,000, set in 2026. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $140,000 (buyer's premium not included).

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Ed Mell auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ed-mell (updated 2026-11-03).

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.