> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/frank-lobdell · updated 2026-11-03

# Frank Lobdell (1921–2013)

## What is Frank Lobdell’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 40 auction results for Frank Lobdell at 9 houses since 2007. Over the last 24 months the median price was $425 including buyer’s premium (middle half $350–$2,767, n=9). The auction record is $134,500 for Dark Presence III (yellow) (2008, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dark Presence III (yellow) | — | $134,500 | Sotheby's | Sep 2008 |
| 2 | 19 Feb. 48, 1948, 1921 | Painting | $60,000 | Bonhams | Oct 2013 |
| 3 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1948 | Painting | $27,500 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Feb 2018 |
| 4 | Untitled, 1959 | Painting | $19,125 | Bonhams | Jun 2025 |
| 5 | November 1953, 1953 | Painting | $18,900 | Rago Arts | Mar 2024 |
| 6 | Reclining woman | Ink and wash on paper | $7,800 | Sotheby's | Feb 2007 |
| 7 | April, 1984 | Painting | $5,544 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Nov 2025 |
| 8 | Untitled (Abstraction), 1921 | Gouache on paper | $5,250 | Bonhams | Apr 2014 |
| 9 | Mist, 1958 | Ink on paper | $4,375 | Bonhams | Mar 2015 |
| 10 | Life model, Palo Alto, 1921 | Ink wash and ink on paper | $3,750 | Bonhams | Apr 2014 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 5 | $19,125 |
| Works on paper | 20 | $2,125 |
| Other | 5 | $2,000 |
| Prints | 8 | $463 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 6 | $2,509 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 26 | $1,600 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 40 results from 9 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Frank Lobdell is an American artist with 49 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $1,938. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Frank Lobdell sold in 2025 for $5,544, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Frank Lobdell work worth?

Across 38 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Frank Lobdell work is $1,938.

The median Frank Lobdell work on paper sells for $1,938 across 16 lots.

The median Frank Lobdell print sells for $388 across 6 lots.

The median Frank Lobdell painting sells for $19,012 across 6 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 | 9 | $388 | $750 | 66.7% | 2026-05-15 |
| Paintings | 6 | $19,012 | $60,000 | — | 2025-11-19 |
| Works on Paper | 20 | $1,938 | $4,375 | 80% | 2025-05-15 |
| Photography | 2 | $1,125 | $1,125 | — | 2022-03-25 |

Frank Lobdell's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (9 lots) median $388 with 66.7% sell-through. Paintings (6 lots) median $19,012, record $60,000. A typical Frank Lobdell painting sells for around 49× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $350–$425 | $350 | $750 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $1,450–$2,250 | $1,938 | $4,375 |

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2013 | $60,000 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $27,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $4,375 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $2,500 |
| Photography | 2022 | $1,125 |
| Photography | 2022 | $1,125 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $500 |

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 Frank Lobdell worth?

Across 38 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Frank Lobdell work is $1,938. The median Frank Lobdell work on paper sells for $1,938 across 16 lots. The median Frank Lobdell print sells for $388 across 6 lots. The median Frank Lobdell painting sells for $19,012 across 6 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 Frank Lobdell work on paper?

Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Frank Lobdell work on paper is $1,938.

### What is Frank Lobdell's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Frank Lobdell work on paper is $4,375.

### What is the average price of a small Frank Lobdell work on paper?

Based on 14 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Frank Lobdell work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,938, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Frank Lobdell's auction record?

Frank Lobdell's auction record is $134,500, set in 2008.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Frank Lobdell auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/frank-lobdell (updated 2026-11-03).

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.