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

# Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012)

## What is Elizabeth Catlett’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 475 auction results for Elizabeth Catlett at 24 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $4,488 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,530–$11,370, n=55). The auction record is $485,000 for Head (2021, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Head, 2012 | Carved limestone | $485,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2021 |
| 2 | Seated Woman, 2012 | Carved mahogany | $389,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2019 |
| 3 | Homage to My Young Black Sisters, 1968 | Red cedar, with painted carved details | $288,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2009 |
| 4 | Woman Resting, 1981 | Polychromed mahogany | $215,900 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 5 | Head of a Woman (Woman), 1944 | Oil on linen | $209,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2018 |
| 6 | Torso, Portrait of Joan, 1915 | Fired terracotta, painted or stained brown | $180,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2008 |
| 7 | Head, 1947 | Terracotta | $173,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2013 |
| 8 | Reclined Figure, 2012 | Black marble, mounted on a stained wood base | $161,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2024 |
| 9 | Sister, 1973 | Cast bronze | $149,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jan 2020 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I am the Black Woman, 1946-47 | The complete set of 14 linoleum cuts | $163,600 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2026 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 63 | $40,000 |
| Works on paper | 87 | $4,750 |
| Other | 43 | $3,900 |
| Prints | 225 | $3,250 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 125 | $4,600 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 278 | $4,040 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 475 results from 24 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Elizabeth Catlett is an American artist with 550 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $4,000. 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 Elizabeth Catlett sold in 2026 for $5,588, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Elizabeth Catlett work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Elizabeth Catlett on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/elizabeth-catlett?ref=kg:elizabeth-catlett) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Elizabeth Catlett work worth?

Across 472 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Elizabeth Catlett work is $4,000.

The median Elizabeth Catlett print sells for $3,000 across 285 lots.

The median Elizabeth Catlett sculpture sells for $32,760 across 62 lots.

The median Elizabeth Catlett work on paper sells for $4,404 across 24 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Elizabeth Catlett prints typically sell for $1,750–$4,080 (the middle half of 155 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Elizabeth Catlett prints typically sell for $2,500–$6,000 (the middle half of 121 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 | 298 | $3,000†‡ | $52,920 | 95.6% | 2026-10-01 |
| Paintings | 4 | $149,000 | $209,000 | 75% | 2018-04-05 |
| Works on Paper | 24 | $4,404 | $118,750 | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 65 | $32,760†‡ | $485,000 | 95.4% | 2026-10-01 |
| Photography | 6 | $2,500† | $9,375 | — | 2025-03-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 24 | $126,000 | $485,000 | — | 2026-10-01 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Elizabeth Catlett's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (298 lots) median $3,000 with 95.6% sell-through. Paintings (4 lots) median $149,000, record $209,000. A typical Elizabeth Catlett painting sells for around 50× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 24 lots) the median is $126,000.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 155 | $1,750–$4,080†‡ | $2,450†‡ | $52,920 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 121 | $2,500–$6,000† | $3,840† | $35,280 |

† 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) | 19 | $2,690–$5,074 | $4,488 | $27,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $1,920–$8,400 | $4,080 | $118,750 |

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 46 | $12,812–$61,175†‡ | $23,430†‡ | $485,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 12 | $47,785–$135,500† | $100,875† | $389,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $2,310–$2,810† | $2,500† | $9,375 |

† 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 | 2021 | $485,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $389,000 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $209,000 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $149,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $118,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $52,920 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $47,812 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $27,500 |

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 Elizabeth Catlett worth?

Across 472 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Elizabeth Catlett work is $4,000. The median Elizabeth Catlett print sells for $3,000 across 285 lots. The median Elizabeth Catlett sculpture sells for $32,760 across 62 lots. The median Elizabeth Catlett work on paper sells for $4,404 across 24 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Elizabeth Catlett prints typically sell for $1,750–$4,080 (the middle half of 155 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Elizabeth Catlett prints typically sell for $2,500–$6,000 (the middle half of 121 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 Elizabeth Catlett print?

Based on 285 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Elizabeth Catlett print is $3,000. 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 Elizabeth Catlett's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Elizabeth Catlett print is $52,920.

### What is the average price of a Elizabeth Catlett sculpture?

Based on 62 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Elizabeth Catlett sculpture is $32,760. 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 Elizabeth Catlett's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Elizabeth Catlett sculpture is $485,000.

### What is the average price of a Elizabeth Catlett work on paper?

Based on 24 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Elizabeth Catlett work on paper is $4,404.

### What is Elizabeth Catlett's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Elizabeth Catlett work on paper is $118,750.

### What is the average price of a small Elizabeth Catlett print?

Based on 155 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Elizabeth Catlett print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,450, 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 Elizabeth Catlett print?

Based on 121 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Elizabeth Catlett print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,840, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Elizabeth Catlett's auction record?

Elizabeth Catlett's auction record is $485,000, set in 2021.

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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, “Elizabeth Catlett auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/elizabeth-catlett (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.