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Ellen Lanyon (1926–2013)

What is Ellen Lanyon’s work worth?

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 30 auction results for Ellen Lanyon at 10 houses since 2005. Over the last 24 months the median price was $635 including buyer’s premium (middle half $127–$857, n=8). The auction record is $3,000 for Untitled (Portrait of Virginia Zabriskie) (2021, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture
#WorkMediumPriceHouseSold
1Untitled (Portrait of Virginia Zabriskie), circa 1965Painted found tin box$3,000Swann Auction GalleriesSep 2021
2Around the World, 1967Acrylic paint$2,268WrightOct 2024
3Around the World, 1967Acrylic and pencil on canvas$2,268Toomey & Co.Oct 2024
4Untitled (graphite on paper), 1965Graphite$1,750WrightSep 2012
5Parnassus Apollo, 1975Artwork$1,143Toomey & Co.Jun 2025
6Parnassus Apollo, 1975Pencil$1,143WrightJun 2025
7Odysseyan, 1991Acrylic paint$910Toomey & Co.Feb 2022
8Copper Silver Snake, 1975Pencil$762Los Angeles Modern AuctionsNov 2025
9Portrait, 1999Acrylic paint$688WrightJul 2021
10Still LifeOil on canvas$635Toomey & Co.Feb 2025
Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
MediumSalesMedian
Other6$953
Paintings7$688
Works on paper7$293
Prints8$179
Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
SizeSalesMedian
Small (under 50 cm)5$504
Medium (50-120 cm)19$500

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 30 results from 10 houses · How we compute these figures

Ellen Lanyon is an American artist with 35 auction lots recorded since 2005, median price $500. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by Ellen Lanyon sold in 2025 for $762, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

See the full Ellen Lanyon record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

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What is a Ellen Lanyon work worth?

Across 30 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ellen Lanyon work is $500.

The median Ellen Lanyon print sells for $160 across 8 lots.

The median Ellen Lanyon work on paper sells for $762 across 5 lots.

The median Ellen Lanyon painting sells for $662 across 6 lots.

Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

Price breakdown by category

CategoryLots trackedMedian priceRecord priceSell-throughLast sale
Prints & Editions9$160†$50488.9%2025-10-25
Paintings6$662$2,268—2025-02-20
Works on Paper6$762$1,75083.3%2025-11-19
Masterpieces (top of market)3$2,268$3,000—2024-10-01

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Ellen Lanyon's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (9 lots) median $160 with 88.9% sell-through. Paintings (6 lots) median $662, record $2,268. A typical Ellen Lanyon painting sells for around 4.1× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $2,268.

Price by size

Works on Paper

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
medium (50–120 cm)5$500–$1,143$762$1,750

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

Notable results

MediumYearPrice
Paintings2024$2,268
Works on Paper2012$1,750
Works on Paper2025$1,143
Paintings2022$910
Prints & Editions2023$504
Prints & Editions2005$235

The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Ellen Lanyon worth?

Across 30 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ellen Lanyon work is $500. The median Ellen Lanyon print sells for $160 across 8 lots. The median Ellen Lanyon work on paper sells for $762 across 5 lots. The median Ellen Lanyon painting sells for $662 across 6 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

What is Ellen Lanyon's auction record?

Ellen Lanyon's auction record is $3,000, set in 2021.

See the full Ellen Lanyon record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

View Ellen Lanyon on OpeningBid →