Etel Adnan (1925–2021)
What is Etel Adnan’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 247 auction results for Etel Adnan at 18 houses since 2006. Over the last 24 months the median price was $76,200 including buyer’s premium (middle half $11,661–$154,597, n=43). The auction record is $565,334 for Untitled (oil on canvas) (2024, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1970 | Oil on canvas | $565,334 | Sotheby's | Mar 2024 |
| 2 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1973 | Oil paint | $460,739 | Sotheby's | Oct 2021 |
| 3 | California, 1970 | Oil paint | $456,256 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 4 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 2016 | Oil paint | $398,966 | Christie's | Oct 2023 |
| 5 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1985 | Oil on canvas | $381,000 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 6 | California, 2003 | Oil paint | $352,800 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 7 | Untitled (oil on canvas board), circa 1980s | Oil on canvas board | $330,817 | Sotheby's | Mar 2022 |
| 8 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 2014 | Oil paint | $315,000 | Christie's | Mar 2023 |
| 9 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 2014 | Painting | $293,750 | Rago Arts | May 2022 |
| 10 | Untitled (Mount Tamalpais), 1985 | Oil paint | $281,590 | Sotheby's | Oct 2023 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 91 | $113,400 |
| Other | 24 | $58,334 |
| Works on paper | 54 | $24,406 |
| Prints | 37 | $4,868 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $127,000 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 170 | $48,956 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 24 | $25,846 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 247 results from 18 houses · How we compute these figures
Etel Adnan is an American artist with 277 auction lots recorded since 2006, median price $27,357. 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 Etel Adnan sold in 2026 for $193,500, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Etel Adnan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Etel Adnan on OpeningBid →What is a Etel Adnan work worth?
Across 241 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Etel Adnan work is $27,357.
The median Etel Adnan painting sells for $126,176 across 91 lots.
The median Etel Adnan print sells for $4,227 across 63 lots.
The median Etel Adnan work on paper sells for $23,157 across 61 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Etel Adnan paintings typically sell for $69,625–$193,347 (the middle half of 82 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Etel Adnan prints typically sell for $2,087–$5,263 (the middle half of 58 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 | 70 | $4,227†‡ | $16,541 | 90% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 96 | $126,176 | $565,334 | 94.8% | 2026-05-21 |
| Works on Paper | 65 | $23,157† | $141,782 | 93.8% | 2026-11-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 66 | $180,527† | $565,334 | — | 2026-05-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Etel Adnan's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (70 lots) median $4,227 with 90% sell-through. Paintings (96 lots) median $126,176, record $565,334. A typical Etel Adnan painting sells for around 30× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 66 lots) the median is $180,527.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 58 | $2,087–$5,263†‡ | $3,622†‡ | $16,541 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $5,390–$9,450 | $5,390 | $10,707 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 82 | $69,625–$193,347 | $116,377 | $398,966 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $261,387–$458,497 | $277,200 | $565,334 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 42 | $11,223–$49,446† | $19,491† | $115,949 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $19,200–$33,041 | $24,811 | $73,907 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2024 | $565,334 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $460,739 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $141,782 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $115,949 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $16,541 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $15,480 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Etel Adnan worth?
Across 241 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Etel Adnan work is $27,357. The median Etel Adnan painting sells for $126,176 across 91 lots. The median Etel Adnan print sells for $4,227 across 63 lots. The median Etel Adnan work on paper sells for $23,157 across 61 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Etel Adnan paintings typically sell for $69,625–$193,347 (the middle half of 82 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Etel Adnan prints typically sell for $2,087–$5,263 (the middle half of 58 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 Etel Adnan painting?
Based on 91 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Etel Adnan painting is $126,176.
What is Etel Adnan's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Etel Adnan painting is $565,334.
What is the average price of a Etel Adnan print?
Based on 63 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Etel Adnan print is $4,227. 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 Etel Adnan's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Etel Adnan print is $16,541.
What is the average price of a Etel Adnan work on paper?
Based on 61 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Etel Adnan work on paper is $23,157. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Etel Adnan's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Etel Adnan work on paper is $141,782.
What is the average price of a small Etel Adnan painting?
Based on 82 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Etel Adnan painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $116,377, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is the average price of a small Etel Adnan print?
Based on 58 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Etel Adnan print (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,622, 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 Etel Adnan's auction record?
Etel Adnan's auction record is $565,334, set in 2024.
See the full Etel Adnan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Etel Adnan on OpeningBid →