El Anatsui (b. 1944)
What is El Anatsui’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 104 auction results for El Anatsui at 10 houses since 2008. Over the last 24 months the median price was $54,778 including buyer’s premium (middle half $22,776–$82,894, n=16). The auction record is $2,228,000 for Prophet (2023, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prophet, 2012 | Installation dimensions variable | $2,228,000 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 2 | Take My Hand, 2005 | Aluminium bottle caps and copper wire | $2,218,472 | Sotheby's | Jun 2023 |
| 3 | New Layout, 2009 | Found aluminum bottlecaps and copper wire | $1,950,000 | Christie's | May 2021 |
| 4 | Wade in the Water, 2017 | Aluminium bottle caps and copper wire | $1,538,612 | Sotheby's | Mar 2022 |
| 5 | TAGOMIZOR, 2005 | Aluminum bottle caps and copper wire | $1,524,000 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| 6 | Recycled Dreams (Uniting the World with a Stitch), 2005 | Found aluminum bottle caps and copper wire | $1,512,500 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 7 | Lanogo, 2009 | Found aluminum bottle caps and copper wire | $1,470,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 8 | Hesitant Rivers, 2012 | Aluminium | $1,344,267 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 9 | Dexterity, 2019 | Aluminium and copper wire | $1,325,220 | Sotheby's | Oct 2023 |
| 10 | Plot a Plan IV, 2007 | Aluminium and copper wire | $1,299,889 | Phillips | Apr 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 31 | $93,100 |
| Other | 58 | $65,883 |
| Paintings | 7 | $30,000 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 64 | $96,639 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 24 | $29,178 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 104 results from 10 houses · How we compute these figures
El Anatsui is a Ghanaian artist with 127 auction lots recorded since 2008, median price $58,563.
A work by El Anatsui sold in 2026 for $60,295, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full El Anatsui record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View El Anatsui on OpeningBid →What is a El Anatsui work worth?
Across 104 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a El Anatsui work is $58,563.
The median El Anatsui sculpture sells for $769,390 across 45 lots.
The median El Anatsui print sells for $26,352 across 10 lots.
The median El Anatsui painting sells for $157,500 across 3 lots.
Large (over 120 cm) El Anatsui sculptures typically sell for $84,943–$1,189,388 (the middle half of 34 sold lots).
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 14 | $26,352 | $76,200 | 71.4% | 2026-02-26 |
| Paintings | 4 | $157,500 | $191,167 | 75% | 2022-03-22 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 50 | $769,390 | $2.2M | 90% | 2026-10-22 |
| Photography | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | 2018-10-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 38 | $941,701 | $2.2M | — | 2026-06-28 |
El Anatsui's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (14 lots) median $26,352 with 71.4% sell-through. Paintings (4 lots) median $157,500, record $191,167. A typical El Anatsui painting sells for around 6.0× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 38 lots) the median is $941,701.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $30,608–$66,700 | $36,216 | $76,200 |
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $17,000–$59,581 | $28,282 | $100,422 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 34 | $84,943–$1.2M | $886,048 | $2.2M |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $2.2M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $1.9M |
| Paintings | 2022 | $191,167 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $157,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $76,200 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $75,600 |
| Photography | 2018 | $5,000 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a El Anatsui worth?
Across 104 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a El Anatsui work is $58,563. The median El Anatsui sculpture sells for $769,390 across 45 lots. The median El Anatsui print sells for $26,352 across 10 lots. The median El Anatsui painting sells for $157,500 across 3 lots. Large (over 120 cm) El Anatsui sculptures typically sell for $84,943–$1,189,388 (the middle half of 34 sold lots).
What is the average price of a El Anatsui sculpture?
Based on 45 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a El Anatsui sculpture is $769,390.
What is El Anatsui's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a El Anatsui sculpture is $2,228,000.
What is the average price of a El Anatsui print?
Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a El Anatsui print is $26,352.
What is El Anatsui's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a El Anatsui print is $76,200.
What is the average price of a large El Anatsui sculpture?
Based on 34 sold lots, the median auction price of a large El Anatsui sculpture (large (over 120 cm)) is $886,048, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is El Anatsui's auction record?
El Anatsui's auction record is $2,228,000, set in 2023.
See the full El Anatsui record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View El Anatsui on OpeningBid →