> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ellen-lanyon · updated 2026-11-01

# Ellen Lanyon (1926–2013)

## What is Ellen Lanyon’s work worth? {#value}

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**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled (Portrait of Virginia Zabriskie), circa 1965 | Painted found tin box | $3,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Sep 2021 |
| 2 | Around the World, 1967 | Acrylic paint | $2,268 | Wright | Oct 2024 |
| 3 | Around the World, 1967 | Acrylic and pencil on canvas | $2,268 | Toomey & Co. | Oct 2024 |
| 4 | Untitled (graphite on paper), 1965 | Graphite | $1,750 | Wright | Sep 2012 |
| 5 | Parnassus Apollo, 1975 | Artwork | $1,143 | Toomey & Co. | Jun 2025 |
| 6 | Parnassus Apollo, 1975 | Pencil | $1,143 | Wright | Jun 2025 |
| 7 | Odysseyan, 1991 | Acrylic paint | $910 | Toomey & Co. | Feb 2022 |
| 8 | Copper Silver Snake, 1975 | Pencil | $762 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Nov 2025 |
| 9 | Portrait, 1999 | Acrylic paint | $688 | Wright | Jul 2021 |
| 10 | Still Life | Oil on canvas | $635 | Toomey & Co. | Feb 2025 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 6 | $953 |
| Paintings | 7 | $688 |
| Works on paper | 7 | $293 |
| Prints | 8 | $179 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

## 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

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 9 | $160† | $504 | 88.9% | 2025-10-25 |
| Paintings | 6 | $662 | $2,268 | — | 2025-02-20 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $762 | $1,750 | 83.3% | 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

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2024 | $2,268 |
| Works on Paper | 2012 | $1,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $1,143 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $910 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $504 |
| Prints & Editions | 2005 | $235 |

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 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Ellen Lanyon auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ellen-lanyon (updated 2026-11-01).

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.