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

# Erwin Olaf (1959–2023)

## What is Erwin Olaf’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 181 auction results for Erwin Olaf at 22 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $6,985 including buyer’s premium (middle half $5,319–$9,723, n=14). The auction record is $43,750 for The Hallway from Hope (2014, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hallway from Hope | Lambda print, Diasec mounted | $43,750 | Phillips | Oct 2014 |
| 2 | 'royal blood' | — | $27,400 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 3 | Keyhole 2, 2011 | Hand coloring | $27,395 | Phillips | Nov 2014 |
| 4 | Irene (from the Grief series), 2007 | Impression lambda montée sur dibond | $26,590 | Christie's | Oct 2017 |
| 5 | HOTEL MILAN, ROOM 607, 2010 | Tirage Lambda | $25,867 | Artcurial | Nov 2014 |
| 6 | The Hallway, 1959 | Hand coloring | $25,000 | Christie's | Oct 2009 |
| 7 | Barbara from Grief | Lambda print | $24,093 | Phillips | Nov 2013 |
| 8 | The Ice Cream Parlour (from Rain), 2004 | Tirage chromogénique monté sous diasec | $23,777 | Christie's | Jun 2015 |
| 9 | From Grief, Margaret, 2007 | Tirage Lambda | $21,375 | Artcurial | May 2014 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ice Cream Parlour from 'Rain', 1959 | Hand coloring | $28,208 | Christie's | Nov 2008 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 32 | $9,006 |
| Photographs | 68 | $7,819 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 36 | $9,488 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 37 | $8,089 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $2,244 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 181 results from 22 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Erwin Olaf is a Dutch artist with 230 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $5,260. 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 Erwin Olaf sold in 2026 for $6,985, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Erwin Olaf work worth?

Across 176 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Erwin Olaf work is $5,260.

The median Erwin Olaf photograph sells for $5,040 across 135 lots.

The median Erwin Olaf print sells for $13,801 across 4 lots.

The median Erwin Olaf sculpture sells for $9,063 across 4 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Erwin Olaf photographs typically sell for $481–$1,922 (the middle half of 51 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Erwin Olaf photographs typically sell for $4,917–$14,130 (the middle half of 44 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 | 5 | $13,801† | $19,264 | 80% | 2026-09-28 |
| Paintings | 3 | $5,698 | $6,985 | 66.7% | 2026-02-12 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $1,408 | $1,408 | — | 2023-12-12 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 5 | $9,063 | $15,204 | 80% | 2026-02-12 |
| Photography | 170 | $5,040†‡ | $43,750 | 79.4% | 2026-09-28 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 9 | $26,590 | $43,750 | — | 2017-10-21 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Erwin Olaf's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $13,801 with 80% sell-through. Paintings (3 lots) median $5,698, record $6,985. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 9 lots) the median is $26,590.

## Price by size

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 51 | $481–$1,922†‡ | $879†‡ | $18,495 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 44 | $4,917–$14,130†‡ | $7,712†‡ | $28,208 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 31 | $6,286–$12,084‡ | $8,775‡ | $43,750 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2014 | $43,750 |
| Photography | 2008 | $28,208 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $19,264 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $15,204 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $13,801 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $11,825 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $6,985 |
| Paintings | 2024 | $4,410 |

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 Erwin Olaf worth?

Across 176 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Erwin Olaf work is $5,260. The median Erwin Olaf photograph sells for $5,040 across 135 lots. The median Erwin Olaf print sells for $13,801 across 4 lots. The median Erwin Olaf sculpture sells for $9,063 across 4 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Erwin Olaf photographs typically sell for $481–$1,922 (the middle half of 51 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Erwin Olaf photographs typically sell for $4,917–$14,130 (the middle half of 44 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 Erwin Olaf photograph?

Based on 135 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Erwin Olaf photograph is $5,040. 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 Erwin Olaf's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Erwin Olaf photograph is $43,750.

### What is the average price of a small Erwin Olaf photograph?

Based on 51 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Erwin Olaf photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $879, 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 Erwin Olaf photograph?

Based on 44 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Erwin Olaf photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $7,712, 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 Erwin Olaf's auction record?

Erwin Olaf's auction record is $43,750, set in 2014.

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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, “Erwin Olaf auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/erwin-olaf (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.