Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015)
Ellsworth Kelly is an American artist with 278 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $6,500. 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 Ellsworth Kelly sold in 2026 for $17,232, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Ellsworth Kelly record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ellsworth Kelly on OpeningBid →What is a Ellsworth Kelly work worth?
Across 261 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ellsworth Kelly work is $6,500.
The median Ellsworth Kelly print sells for $5,925 across 227 lots.
The median Ellsworth Kelly work on paper sells for $94,870 across 18 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Ellsworth Kelly prints typically sell for $2,564–$9,375 (the middle half of 153 sold lots).
Large (over 120 cm) Ellsworth Kelly prints typically sell for $4,332–$15,121 (the middle half of 23 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 | 232 | $5,925†‡ | $54,882 | 97.8% | 2026-10-24 |
| Works on Paper | 18 | $94,870‡ | $398,024 | — | 2025-08-21 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 13 | $187,725 | $492,726 | — | 2016-05-11 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $562–$5,360†‡ | $2,000†‡ | $12,261 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 153 | $2,564–$9,375†‡ | $5,939†‡ | $32,929 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 23 | $4,332–$15,121 | $10,976 | $54,882 |
† 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) | 5 | $5,000–$20,361‡ | $8,346‡ | $25,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $92,125–$200,015 | $182,957 | $312,910 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $398,024 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $312,910 |
| Prints & Editions | 2004 | $54,882 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $47,598 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Ellsworth Kelly worth?
Across 261 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ellsworth Kelly work is $6,500. The median Ellsworth Kelly print sells for $5,925 across 227 lots. The median Ellsworth Kelly work on paper sells for $94,870 across 18 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Ellsworth Kelly prints typically sell for $2,564–$9,375 (the middle half of 153 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Ellsworth Kelly prints typically sell for $4,332–$15,121 (the middle half of 23 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 Ellsworth Kelly print?
Based on 227 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ellsworth Kelly print is $5,925. 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 Ellsworth Kelly's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Ellsworth Kelly print is $54,882.
What is the average price of a Ellsworth Kelly work on paper?
Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ellsworth Kelly work on paper is $94,870. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Ellsworth Kelly's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Ellsworth Kelly work on paper is $398,024.
What is the average price of a medium Ellsworth Kelly print?
Based on 153 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ellsworth Kelly print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,939, 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 large Ellsworth Kelly print?
Based on 23 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Ellsworth Kelly print (large (over 120 cm)) is $10,976, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Ellsworth Kelly's auction record?
Ellsworth Kelly's auction record is $492,726, set in 2016.
See the full Ellsworth Kelly record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ellsworth Kelly on OpeningBid →