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

# Francis Alÿs (b. 1959)

## What is Francis Alÿs’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 164 auction results for Francis Alÿs at 11 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $75,798 including buyer’s premium (middle half $22,705–$147,940, n=20). The auction record is $441,000 for Untitled [Five works] (2025, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled [Five works], 1995 | Oil paint | $441,000 | Christie's | May 2025 |
| 2 | Untitled (Installation of two works, in collaboration with Emilio Rivera), 1996 | I) oil on canvas, laid on board ii) airbrush on metal sheet | $291,203 | Phillips | Jun 2022 |
| 3 | The Liar and The Copy of The Liar, 1993 | Encaustic | $279,400 | Sotheby's | May 2024 |
| 4 | Diptych (encaustic on canvas over Masonite), 1994 | Diptych--encaustic on canvas over Masonite | $275,000 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 5 | Untitled (oil on canvas mounted on shaped panel), 1996 | Oil paint | $275,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 6 | Mexico City Triptych, 1995 | Triptych | $226,800 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |
| 7 | Untitled (Original), 1995 | Oil paint | $225,106 | Christie's | Mar 2017 |
| 8 | Paralelas, 1994 | Diptych | $212,500 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 9 | Déjà-vu (Clock), 2004 | Oil, encaustic and clock on canvas, diptych | $208,761 | Phillips | Jun 2024 |
| 10 | Untitled (oil on canvas mounted on panel), 2011 | Oil paint | $189,000 | Christie's | Mar 2022 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 61 | $83,650 |
| Other | 46 | $37,029 |
| Works on paper | 30 | $21,875 |
| Photographs | 8 | $16,010 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $69,701 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 106 | $48,635 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 22 | $27,791 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 164 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Francis Alÿs is a Belgian artist with 184 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $43,908. 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 Francis Alÿs sold in 2026 for $152,602, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Francis Alÿs work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Francis Alÿs on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/francis-alys?ref=kg:francis-alys) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Francis Alÿs work worth?

Across 164 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Francis Alÿs work is $43,908.

The median Francis Alÿs painting sells for $75,000 across 71 lots.

The median Francis Alÿs work on paper sells for $20,000 across 38 lots.

The median Francis Alÿs photograph sells for $12,578 across 13 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Francis Alÿs paintings typically sell for $49,128–$150,923 (the middle half of 60 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Francis Alÿs work on papers typically sell for $14,681–$35,738 (the middle half of 26 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 | 12 | $2,812‡ | $103,700 | 91.7% | 2026-10-01 |
| Paintings | 73 | $75,000†‡ | $441,000 | 97.3% | 2026-06-09 |
| Works on Paper | 41 | $20,000† | $165,100 | 92.7% | 2025-12-02 |
| Photography | 15 | $12,578†‡ | $85,740† | 86.7% | 2025-04-10 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 40 | $163,276 | $441,000 | — | 2026-10-15 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Francis Alÿs's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (12 lots) median $2,812 with 91.7% sell-through. Paintings (73 lots) median $75,000, record $441,000. A typical Francis Alÿs painting sells for around 27× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 40 lots) the median is $163,276.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $2,161–$2,906‡ | $2,654‡ | $7,011 |

‡ 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) | 60 | $49,128–$150,923†‡ | $72,073†‡ | $291,203 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $57,301–$175,376† | $92,525† | $441,000 |

† 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) | 26 | $14,681–$35,738† | $23,750† | $165,100 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $17,443–$34,050† | $19,320† | $42,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $3,626–$12,925†‡ | $10,732†‡ | $85,740† |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2025 | $441,000 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $291,203 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $165,100 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $103,700 |
| Photography | 2021 | $85,740† |
| Photography | 2023 | $85,066 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $69,701 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $8,125 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Francis Alÿs worth?

Across 164 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Francis Alÿs work is $43,908. The median Francis Alÿs painting sells for $75,000 across 71 lots. The median Francis Alÿs work on paper sells for $20,000 across 38 lots. The median Francis Alÿs photograph sells for $12,578 across 13 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Francis Alÿs paintings typically sell for $49,128–$150,923 (the middle half of 60 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Francis Alÿs work on papers typically sell for $14,681–$35,738 (the middle half of 26 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 Francis Alÿs painting?

Based on 71 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Francis Alÿs painting is $75,000. 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 Francis Alÿs's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Francis Alÿs painting is $441,000.

### What is the average price of a Francis Alÿs work on paper?

Based on 38 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Francis Alÿs work on paper is $20,000. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Francis Alÿs's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Francis Alÿs work on paper is $165,100.

### What is the average price of a Francis Alÿs photograph?

Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Francis Alÿs photograph is $12,578. 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 Francis Alÿs's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Francis Alÿs photograph is $85,740. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $85,740 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a small Francis Alÿs painting?

Based on 60 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Francis Alÿs painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $72,073, 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 small Francis Alÿs work on paper?

Based on 26 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Francis Alÿs work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $23,750, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Francis Alÿs's auction record?

Francis Alÿs's auction record is $441,000, set in 2025.

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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, “Francis Alÿs auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/francis-alys (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.