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

# Fred Cress (1938–2009)

## What is Fred Cress’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 102 auction results for Fred Cress at 6 houses since 2008. Over the last 24 months the median price was $130 including buyer’s premium (middle half $64–$204, n=32). The auction record is $119,797 for True Believers (2009, Menzies Art Brands). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | True Believers, 1994 | Synthetic polymer paint on canvas | $119,797 | Menzies Art Brands | Jun 2009 |
| 2 | Communion, 2002 | Synthetic polymer paint on canvas | $48,093 | Menzies Art Brands | Sep 2009 |
| 3 | Intimacy, 1998 | Synthetic polymer paint on canvas | $43,676 | Menzies Art Brands | Mar 2009 |
| 4 | The Last Picnic | Synthetic polymer paint on canvas | $11,329 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jul 2019 |
| 5 | Fred Cress (1938-2009) Lily Pond | Acrylic on canvas | $2,985 | Woolley and Wallis | Dec 2023 |
| 6 | Night Sitter, 2002 | Synthetic polymer paint on canvas | $2,714 | Lawsons Auctioneers | May 2026 |
| 7 | Tell Tales, 1988 | Mixed media | $733 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Feb 2010 |
| 8 | Ginnie's cat, 1938 | Oil paint | $685 | Christie's | Sep 2010 |
| 9 | Secrets, 1985 | Charcoal, pastel and oil stick on paper | $475 | Shapiro Auctioneers | Apr 2025 |
| 10 | Figure Flowers #7, 1938 | Pastel, ink and charcoal on paper | $405 | Shapiro Auctioneers | Jun 2025 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 7 | $11,329 |
| Prints | 38 | $84 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $43,676 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 44 | $125 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 102 results from 6 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Fred Cress is an Australian artist with 153 auction lots recorded since 2008, median price $199. 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 Fred Cress sold in 2026 for $229, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Fred Cress work worth?

Across 89 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Fred Cress work is $199.

The median Fred Cress print sells for $106 across 56 lots.

The median Fred Cress painting sells for $10,495 across 19 lots.

The median Fred Cress work on paper sells for $405 across 9 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Fred Cress prints typically sell for $65–$199 (the middle half of 53 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 | 92 | $106† | $1,076† | 60.9% | 2026-09-09 |
| Paintings | 32 | $10,495† | $56,951† | 59.4% | 2026-05-13 |
| Works on Paper | 18 | $405† | $1,292† | 50% | 2025-06-24 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $45,884† | $119,797 | — | 2011-12-08 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Fred Cress's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (92 lots) median $106 with 60.9% sell-through. Paintings (32 lots) median $10,495, record $56,951. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $56,951 (buyer's premium not included). A typical Fred Cress painting sells for around 99× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 6 lots) the median is $45,884.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 53 | $65–$199† | $106† | $1,076† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 17 | $5,027–$17,290† | $11,329† | $56,951† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $353–$442† | $396† | $1,292† |

† 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 | 2011 | $56,951† |
| Paintings | 2010 | $25,985† |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $1,292† |
| Prints & Editions | 2008 | $1,076† |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $893† |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $316 |

† 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 Fred Cress worth?

Across 89 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Fred Cress work is $199. The median Fred Cress print sells for $106 across 56 lots. The median Fred Cress painting sells for $10,495 across 19 lots. The median Fred Cress work on paper sells for $405 across 9 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Fred Cress prints typically sell for $65–$199 (the middle half of 53 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 Fred Cress print?

Based on 56 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Fred Cress print is $106. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Fred Cress's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Fred Cress print is $1,076. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $1,076 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a Fred Cress painting?

Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Fred Cress painting is $10,495. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Fred Cress's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Fred Cress painting is $56,951. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $56,951 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a Fred Cress work on paper?

Based on 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Fred Cress work on paper is $405. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Fred Cress's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Fred Cress work on paper is $1,292. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $1,292 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a medium Fred Cress print?

Based on 53 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Fred Cress print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $106, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a large Fred Cress painting?

Based on 17 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Fred Cress painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $11,329, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Fred Cress's auction record?

Fred Cress's auction record is $119,797, set in 2009.

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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, “Fred Cress auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/fred-cress (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.