George Lilanga (1934–2005)
What is George Lilanga’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 99 auction results for George Lilanga at 21 houses since 2007. Over the last 24 months the median price was $498 including buyer’s premium (middle half $430–$682, n=6). The auction record is $16,412 for Sans titre (peinture sur métal découpé) (2017, Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams)). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sans titre (peinture sur métal découpé) | Cutout steel, paint | $16,412 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Jun 2017 |
| 2 | Sans titre (bois polychrome), 2004 | Bois polychrome | $15,825 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Dec 2017 |
| 3 | AINA AJA KUTAFUTA MAISHA | Paint on panel | $13,801 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Oct 2018 |
| 4 | WAKULIMA WANAKAGUA MBEGIO KABLA YA KWENDA SHAMBA, 1998 | Peinture sur panneau | $11,021 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Oct 2017 |
| 5 | Sans titre (peinture sur métal découpé) | Cutout steel, paint | $10,620 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Jun 2017 |
| 6 | MATERNITE SHETANI, 2002-2003 | Peinture industrielle sur bois | $9,187 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Apr 2017 |
| 7 | WANAPIGA PICHA KWAPAMO KIFAMILIA, 1993 | Paint on masonite | $7,667 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Oct 2018 |
| 8 | Untitled, 2003 | Signée en bas à droite "lilanga" Un certificat de la Galerie Magnin-A sera déliv | $5,981 | Artcurial | Jun 2021 |
| 9 | Sans titre (peinture sur panneau), 1998 | Peinture sur panneau | $5,511 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Oct 2017 |
| 10 | Untitled, 2004 | Bois polychrome | $4,812 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Dec 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 23 | $887 |
| Sculpture | 13 | $610 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $8,065 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 18 | $782 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $471 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 99 results from 21 houses · How we compute these figures
George Lilanga is a Tanzanian artist with 171 auction lots recorded since 2007, median price $847. 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 George Lilanga sold in 2026 for $887, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 George Lilanga work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow George Lilanga free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full George Lilanga record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View George Lilanga on OpeningBid →What is a George Lilanga work worth?
Across 99 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a George Lilanga work is $847.
The median George Lilanga painting sells for $926 across 62 lots.
The median George Lilanga sculpture sells for $1,169 across 19 lots.
The median George Lilanga work on paper sells for $468 across 9 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) George Lilanga paintings typically sell for $524–$1,248 (the middle half of 25 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 | 2 | $100 | $100 | 50% | 2022-03-17 |
| Paintings | 73 | $926†‡ | $13,801 | 84.9% | 2026-09-25 |
| Works on Paper | 13 | $468†‡ | $16,412 | 69.2% | 2025-05-20 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 19 | $1,169‡ | $15,825 | — | 2025-11-13 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $13,801 | $16,412 | — | 2018-10-23 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
George Lilanga's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $100 with 50% sell-through. Paintings (73 lots) median $926, record $13,801. A typical George Lilanga painting sells for around 9.3× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $13,801.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 25 | $524–$1,248†‡ | $721†‡ | $9,187 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 18 | $969–$3,874†‡ | $2,042†‡ | $13,801 |
† 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) | 7 | $468–$468†‡ | $468†‡ | $468‡ |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $430–$975‡ | $516‡ | $1,636 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $1,885–$3,754‡ | $2,389‡ | $15,825 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $16,412 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $15,825 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $13,801 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $11,021 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $4,812 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $2,300 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $100 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a George Lilanga worth?
Across 99 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a George Lilanga work is $847. The median George Lilanga painting sells for $926 across 62 lots. The median George Lilanga sculpture sells for $1,169 across 19 lots. The median George Lilanga work on paper sells for $468 across 9 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) George Lilanga paintings typically sell for $524–$1,248 (the middle half of 25 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 George Lilanga painting?
Based on 62 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a George Lilanga painting is $926. 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 George Lilanga's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a George Lilanga painting is $13,801.
What is the average price of a George Lilanga sculpture?
Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a George Lilanga sculpture is $1,169. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is George Lilanga's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a George Lilanga sculpture is $15,825.
What is the average price of a George Lilanga work on paper?
Based on 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a George Lilanga work on paper is $468. 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 George Lilanga's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a George Lilanga work on paper is $16,412.
What is the average price of a medium George Lilanga painting?
Based on 25 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium George Lilanga painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $721, 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 large George Lilanga painting?
Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a large George Lilanga painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $2,042, 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 George Lilanga's auction record?
George Lilanga's auction record is $16,412, set in 2017.
See the full George Lilanga record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View George Lilanga on OpeningBid →