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

# Francis Picabia (1879–1953)

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

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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 270 | $208,833 |
| Other | 155 | $30,783 |
| Works on paper | 222 | $24,877 |
| Prints | 24 | $1,170 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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).

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

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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 Picabia auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/francis-picabia (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.