Edward Kienholz (1927–1994)
What is Edward Kienholz’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 128 auction results for Edward Kienholz at 31 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,170 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,827–$4,267, n=12). The auction record is $141,900 for The Future as an Afterthought (2003, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Future as an Afterthought, 1962 | Sculpture | $141,900 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 2 | Boy, Son of John Doe, 1961 | Mixed media assemblage | $118,000 | Christie's | Oct 1998 |
| 3 | Jane Doe, 1960 | Wax | $94,500 | Christie's | Sep 2022 |
| 4 | Le Mariage, 1961 | Sculpture en trois parties | $74,092 | Artcurial | Dec 2009 |
| 5 | Assemblage, 1974 | Mixed media | $66,333 | Sotheby's | Dec 2022 |
| 6 | Marlena Deepdich or a Portable Success Story, 1961 | Oil paint | $63,000 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 7 | The Little Eagle Rock Incident | Paint and resin on plywood with mounted deer head | $62,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2010 |
| 8 | Moses | Mixed media sculpture | $58,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 9 | America My Hometown, 1963 | Color | $56,250 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |
| 10 | The God Tracking Station #1, 1959 | Installation | $54,000 | Sotheby's | Sep 2024 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 36 | $11,370 |
| Sculpture | 11 | $9,600 |
| Works on paper | 32 | $5,648 |
| Prints | 17 | $1,548 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 25 | $14,795 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 53 | $5,000 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 17 | $4,080 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 128 results from 31 houses · How we compute these figures
Edward Kienholz is an American artist with 166 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $4,762. 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 Edward Kienholz sold in 2025 for $4,826, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Edward Kienholz record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Edward Kienholz on OpeningBid →What is a Edward Kienholz work worth?
Across 127 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Edward Kienholz work is $4,762.
The median Edward Kienholz print sells for $1,186 across 27 lots.
The median Edward Kienholz work on paper sells for $4,450 across 29 lots.
The median Edward Kienholz painting sells for $8,125 across 14 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Edward Kienholz work on papers typically sell for $2,387–$5,815 (the middle half of 24 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 | 33 | $1,186†‡ | $17,929 | 81.8% | 2026-04-22 |
| Paintings | 18 | $8,125 | $25,400 | 77.8% | 2025-05-14 |
| Works on Paper | 31 | $4,450†‡ | $56,250 | 93.5% | 2025-10-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 13 | $7,749† | $141,900 | 84.6% | 2025-10-07 |
| Photography | 10 | $3,954 | $12,575 | 70% | 2019-05-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $94,500 | $141,900 | — | 2022-12-07 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Edward Kienholz's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (33 lots) median $1,186 with 81.8% sell-through. Paintings (18 lots) median $8,125, record $25,400. A typical Edward Kienholz painting sells for around 6.9× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $94,500.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $885–$2,387†‡ | $1,548†‡ | $5,313 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $562–$1,952†‡ | $1,147†‡ | $17,929 |
† 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) | 11 | $6,876–$9,062 | $8,125 | $10,625 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 24 | $2,387–$5,815†‡ | $4,448†‡ | $21,250 |
† 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) | 5 | $2,500–$3,930† | $2,515† | $7,749 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2003 | $141,900 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2006 | $113,293 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $56,250 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $25,400 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $21,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $17,929 |
| Paintings | 2000 | $17,625 |
| Photography | 2019 | $12,575 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Edward Kienholz worth?
Across 127 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Edward Kienholz work is $4,762. The median Edward Kienholz print sells for $1,186 across 27 lots. The median Edward Kienholz work on paper sells for $4,450 across 29 lots. The median Edward Kienholz painting sells for $8,125 across 14 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Edward Kienholz work on papers typically sell for $2,387–$5,815 (the middle half of 24 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 Edward Kienholz print?
Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Edward Kienholz print is $1,186. 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 Edward Kienholz's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Edward Kienholz print is $17,929.
What is the average price of a Edward Kienholz work on paper?
Based on 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Edward Kienholz work on paper is $4,450. 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 Edward Kienholz's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Edward Kienholz work on paper is $56,250.
What is the average price of a Edward Kienholz painting?
Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Edward Kienholz painting is $8,125.
What is Edward Kienholz's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Edward Kienholz painting is $25,400.
What is the average price of a small Edward Kienholz work on paper?
Based on 24 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Edward Kienholz work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,448, 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 Edward Kienholz print?
Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Edward Kienholz print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,147, 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 Edward Kienholz's auction record?
Edward Kienholz's auction record is $141,900, set in 2003.
See the full Edward Kienholz record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Edward Kienholz on OpeningBid →