Francis Picabia (1879–1953)
What is Francis Picabia’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 748 auction results for Francis Picabia at 55 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $54,596 including buyer’s premium (middle half $10,221–$247,828, n=74). The auction record is $10,990,372 for Pavonia (2022, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pavonia, 1929 | Oil paint | $10,990,372 | Sotheby's | Mar 2022 |
| 2 | Lampe, 1923 | Pencil | $4,637,032 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 3 | Ligustri, 1929 | Painting | $4,557,345 | Christie's | Feb 2020 |
| 4 | Deux amies, 1940 | Oil paint | $4,549,225 | Sotheby's | Sep 2025 |
| 5 | Sans titre (Pot de fleurs), 1879 | — | $4,186,722 | Christie's | Feb 2018 |
| 6 | Sans titre (oil on board), 1940 | Oil paint | $3,780,000 | Christie's | Sep 2023 |
| 7 | La corrida (Le Matador dans l'arène), 1940 | Oil on cardboard | $3,720,463 | Sotheby's | Mar 2021 |
| 8 | Nu de dos, 1940 | Oil paint | $3,630,219 | Sotheby's | Mar 2022 |
| 9 | Veglione, 1924 | Oil paint | $3,445,290 | Christie's | Mar 2024 |
| 10 | Tarin, 1929 | Oil paint | $3,397,206 | Sotheby's | Apr 2022 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 270 | $208,833 |
| Other | 155 | $30,783 |
| Works on paper | 222 | $24,877 |
| Prints | 24 | $1,170 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 21 | $959,042 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 262 | $211,116 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 283 | $18,227 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 748 results from 55 houses · How we compute these figures
Francis Picabia is a French artist with 934 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $53,125. 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 Picabia sold in 2026 for $673,371, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
4 Francis Picabia works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Francis Picabia free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Francis Picabia record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Francis Picabia on OpeningBid →What is a Francis Picabia work worth?
Across 742 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Francis Picabia work is $53,125.
The median Francis Picabia work on paper sells for $21,552 across 317 lots.
The median Francis Picabia painting sells for $170,250 across 297 lots.
The median Francis Picabia print sells for $968 across 34 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Francis Picabia work on papers typically sell for $7,664–$30,177 (the middle half of 215 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Francis Picabia paintings typically sell for $116,404–$414,458 (the middle half of 186 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 | 49 | $968†‡ | $10,587 | 69.4% | 2025-05-31 |
| Paintings | 335 | $170,250†‡ | $11M | 88.7% | 2026-06-26 |
| Works on Paper | 361 | $21,552†‡ | $4.6M | 87.8% | 2026-10-16 |
| Photography | 3 | $12,705 | $204,484 | — | 2019-07-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 286 | $300,000†‡ | $11M | — | 2026-10-23 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Francis Picabia's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (49 lots) median $968 with 69.4% sell-through. Paintings (335 lots) median $170,250, record $10,990,372. A typical Francis Picabia painting sells for around 176× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 286 lots) the median is $300,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $327–$1,429†‡ | $937†‡ | $10,587 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $931–$1,438 | $1,197 | $1,780 |
† 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) | 66 | $30,346–$125,146†‡ | $57,688†‡ | $358,948 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 186 | $116,404–$414,458†‡ | $231,442†‡ | $4.5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 20 | $774,121–$2M | $1M | $11M |
† 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) | 215 | $7,664–$30,177†‡ | $15,325†‡ | $403,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 68 | $47,405–$309,339†‡ | $107,749†‡ | $4.6M |
† 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 | 2022 | $11M |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $4.6M |
| Paintings | 2020 | $4.6M |
| Works on Paper | 2012 | $2.9M |
| Photography | 2016 | $204,484 |
| Photography | 2019 | $12,705 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $10,587 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $7,988 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Francis Picabia worth?
Across 742 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Francis Picabia work is $53,125. The median Francis Picabia work on paper sells for $21,552 across 317 lots. The median Francis Picabia painting sells for $170,250 across 297 lots. The median Francis Picabia print sells for $968 across 34 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Francis Picabia work on papers typically sell for $7,664–$30,177 (the middle half of 215 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Francis Picabia paintings typically sell for $116,404–$414,458 (the middle half of 186 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 Picabia work on paper?
Based on 317 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Francis Picabia work on paper is $21,552. 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 Picabia's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Francis Picabia work on paper is $4,637,032.
What is the average price of a Francis Picabia painting?
Based on 297 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Francis Picabia painting is $170,250. 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 Picabia's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Francis Picabia painting is $10,990,372.
What is the average price of a Francis Picabia print?
Based on 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Francis Picabia print is $968. 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 Picabia's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Francis Picabia print is $10,587.
What is the average price of a small Francis Picabia work on paper?
Based on 215 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Francis Picabia work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $15,325, 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 Francis Picabia painting?
Based on 186 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Francis Picabia painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $231,442, 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 Francis Picabia's auction record?
Francis Picabia's auction record is $10,990,372, set in 2022.
See the full Francis Picabia record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Francis Picabia on OpeningBid →