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

# Fred Sandback (1943–2003)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 183 auction results for Fred Sandback at 22 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $9,030 including buyer’s premium (middle half $5,313–$82,047, n=7). The auction record is $545,000 for Broadway Boogie Woogie (Sculptural Study, Twenty-two part Vertical Construction) (2015, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broadway Boogie Woogie (Sculptural Study, Twenty-two part Vertical Construction) | Red, yellow, blue acrylic yarn | $545,000 | Phillips | May 2015 |
| 2 | Untitled (Vertical Corner Piece), 1971 | Acrylic | $269,764 | Sotheby's | Mar 2022 |
| 3 | Untitled (Rust Brown Diagonal) | Rust brown acrylic yarn | $230,203 | Phillips | Jun 2015 |
| 4 | Untitled (dark red acrylic yarn installation), 1967-1989 | Dark red acrylic yarn | $221,000 | Christie's | Nov 2015 |
| 5 | Untitled (light blue and ochre acrylic yarn), 1981 | Light blue and ochre acrylic yarn | $221,000 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 6 | Untitled (red elastic cord installation) | Red elastic cord | $197,000 | Phillips | May 2015 |
| 7 | Untitled (Diagonal Construction), 1970 | Blue acrylic yarn, three ply | $173,000 | Christie's | Mar 2015 |
| 8 | Untitled (LLR of A Series of Eight Sculptures, Open Series), 1969 | Steel and elastic cord | $139,700 | Christie's | May 2026 |
| 9 | Untitled (red acrylic on elastic cord and steel), 1967 | Red acrylic on 1/32-inch diameter elastic cord and steel | $139,700 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 10 | Untitled (RLR of A Series of Eight Sculptures), 1969 | Gray acrylic on steel and elastic cord, in 3 parts | $138,494 | Sotheby's | Dec 2024 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 5 | $139,700 |
| Other | 34 | $25,500 |
| Works on paper | 31 | $8,450 |
| Prints | 64 | $2,254 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $139,700 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 76 | $5,670 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 45 | $4,750 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 183 results from 22 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Fred Sandback is an American artist with 221 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $4,638. 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 Sandback sold in 2026 for $25,600, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**2 Fred Sandback works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Fred Sandback on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/fred-sandback?ref=kg:fred-sandback) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Fred Sandback work worth?

Across 183 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Fred Sandback work is $4,638.

The median Fred Sandback print sells for $2,135 across 98 lots.

The median Fred Sandback work on paper sells for $8,320 across 44 lots.

The median Fred Sandback sculpture sells for $62,500 across 16 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Fred Sandback prints typically sell for $1,260–$5,292 (the middle half of 57 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Fred Sandback prints typically sell for $1,749–$3,137 (the middle half of 38 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 | 108 | $2,135†‡ | $30,000 | 90.7% | 2026-06-24 |
| Paintings | 4 | $111,125 | $269,764 | — | 2023-11-16 |
| Works on Paper | 50 | $8,320†‡ | $57,023 | 88% | 2025-11-27 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 20 | $62,500 | $545,000 | 80% | 2026-09-18 |
| Photography | 2 | $7,930 | $12,303 | — | 2024-03-04 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 11 | $197,000 | $545,000 | — | 2026-05-20 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Fred Sandback's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (108 lots) median $2,135 with 90.7% sell-through. Paintings (4 lots) median $111,125, record $269,764. A typical Fred Sandback painting sells for around 52× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 11 lots) the median is $197,000.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 57 | $1,260–$5,292†‡ | $2,135†‡ | $30,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 38 | $1,749–$3,137†‡ | $2,135†‡ | $8,820 |

† 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) | 23 | $4,582–$9,186†‡ | $7,094†‡ | $57,023 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 21 | $7,800–$12,861†‡ | $10,323†‡ | $31,541 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $64,200–$182,675 | $104,500 | $230,203 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2015 | $545,000 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $269,764 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2015 | $230,203 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $139,700 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $57,023 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $31,541 |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $30,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $24,200 |

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 Sandback worth?

Across 183 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Fred Sandback work is $4,638. The median Fred Sandback print sells for $2,135 across 98 lots. The median Fred Sandback work on paper sells for $8,320 across 44 lots. The median Fred Sandback sculpture sells for $62,500 across 16 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Fred Sandback prints typically sell for $1,260–$5,292 (the middle half of 57 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Fred Sandback prints typically sell for $1,749–$3,137 (the middle half of 38 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 Sandback print?

Based on 98 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Fred Sandback print is $2,135. 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 Fred Sandback's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Fred Sandback print is $30,000.

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

Based on 44 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Fred Sandback work on paper is $8,320. 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 Fred Sandback's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Fred Sandback work on paper is $57,023.

### What is the average price of a Fred Sandback sculpture?

Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Fred Sandback sculpture is $62,500.

### What is Fred Sandback's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Fred Sandback sculpture is $545,000.

### What is the average price of a small Fred Sandback print?

Based on 57 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Fred Sandback print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,135, 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 Fred Sandback print?

Based on 38 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Fred Sandback print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,135, 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 Fred Sandback's auction record?

Fred Sandback's auction record is $545,000, set in 2015.

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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 Sandback auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/fred-sandback (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.