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

# General Idea (1969–1994)

## What is General Idea’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 43 auction results for General Idea at 18 houses since 2007. Over the last 24 months the median price was $557 including buyer’s premium (middle half $370–$6,553, n=8). The auction record is $193,500 for AIDS (Reinhardt) #4 (2026, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AIDS (Reinhardt) #4, 1991 | Oil with beeswax glaze on linen over panel | $193,500 | Phillips | May 2026 |
| 2 | Cœurs Volants (Flying Hearts), 1994 | Acrylic and gold leaf on panel, in six parts | $70,368 | Christie's | Jul 2008 |
| 3 | Zigourat, 1986 | Acrylic paint | $28,611 | Phillips | Jun 2013 |
| 4 | Infecté Coeur Volant, 1994 | Acrylic on shaped panel, in 6 parts | $24,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2024 |
| 5 | TRINITRON #15, 1987 | Acrylic paint | $21,364 | Sotheby's | Feb 2020 |
| 6 | DICK ALL, 1993 | Verre tourné | $1,165 | Artcurial | Jan 2007 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fear Management (F. 8706), 1987 | The complete set of eight screenprints in colors, on hand-painted wove paper, the full sheets | $8,255 | Phillips | Feb 2024 |
| 2 | AIDS, 1988 | Screenprint | $5,040 | Sotheby's | Dec 2020 |
| 3 | Maybe we are being paranoid, circa 1973 | Fotocollage und Tinte über Serigraphie auf Velin | $3,241 | Karl & Faber | Dec 2017 |
| 4 | AIDS (Stamps), 1988 | Two offset lithographs in colours, on perforated light wove paper, with full margins | $1,141 | Phillips | Jun 2022 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 6 | $26,306 |
| Prints | 6 | $2,191 |
| Other | 9 | $603 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $939 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 8 | $496 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 43 results from 18 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


General Idea is a Canadian artist with 51 auction lots recorded since 2008, median price $1,123. 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 General Idea is recorded as sold in 2026 for $4,379; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a General Idea work worth?

Across 42 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a General Idea work is $1,123.

The median General Idea print sells for $709 across 16 lots.

The median General Idea work on paper sells for $3,726 across 4 lots.

The median General Idea painting sells for $22,682 across 4 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 | 17 | $709‡ | $8,255 | 94.1% | 2026-10-29 |
| Paintings | 4 | $22,682‡ | $28,611 | — | 2026-10-25 |
| Works on Paper | 4 | $3,726†‡ | $14,559‡ | — | 2023-11-27 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $46 | $46 | — | 2016-03-17 |
| Photography | 1 | $2,329† | $2,329† | — | 2015-11-25 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

General Idea's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (17 lots) median $709 with 94.1% sell-through. Paintings (4 lots) median $22,682, record $28,611. A typical General Idea painting sells for around 32× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $567–$2,716‡ | $939‡ | $3,916‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $335–$3,931 | $496 | $8,255 |

‡ 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 | 2013 | $28,611 |
| Paintings | 2024 | $24,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $14,559‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $8,255 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $5,040 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $4,252‡ |
| Photography | 2015 | $2,329† |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2016 | $46 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

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 General Idea worth?

Across 42 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a General Idea work is $1,123. The median General Idea print sells for $709 across 16 lots. The median General Idea work on paper sells for $3,726 across 4 lots. The median General Idea painting sells for $22,682 across 4 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 General Idea print?

Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a General Idea print is $709. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is General Idea's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a General Idea print is $8,255.

### What is General Idea's auction record?

General Idea's auction record is $193,500, set in 2026.

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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, “General Idea auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/general-idea (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.