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

# George Tooker (1920–2011)

## What is George Tooker’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 94 auction results for George Tooker at 20 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $681 including buyer’s premium (middle half $457–$1,176, n=8). The auction record is $444,500 for Jukebox (2024, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jukebox, 1953 | Tempera on gessoed board | $444,500 | Sotheby's | May 2024 |
| 2 | A Game of Chess, 1946 | Painting | $432,500 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 3 | Table II, 1981 | Egg tempera on gessoed panel | $239,400 | Phillips | Jun 2021 |
| 4 | White Curtain, 1951 | Tempera | $214,200 | Christie's | Apr 2023 |
| 5 | Odalisque, 1967 | Painting | $187,500 | Christie's | May 2017 |
| 6 | Sibyl | — | $181,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 7 | ODALISQUE, 1967 | Tempera on panel | $132,000 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | May 1991 |
| 8 | Untitled (Young Man Facing a Woman), 1950 | Tempera on panel | $81,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2021 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Mirror, 1978 | Lithograph | $6,240 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2012 |
| 2 | Three lithographs: Voice, Mirror, Self Portrait, 1977-1984 | Lithograph | $3,800 | Swann Auction Galleries | Nov 2007 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 8 | $200,850 |
| Prints | 66 | $1,187 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 30 | $1,400 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 47 | $1,187 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 94 results from 20 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


George Tooker is an American artist with 119 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $1,187. 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 Tooker sold in 2025 for $3,048, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**3 George Tooker works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [George Tooker on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/george-tooker?ref=kg:george-tooker) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a George Tooker work worth?

Across 94 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a George Tooker work is $1,187.

The median George Tooker print sells for $1,125 across 78 lots.

The median George Tooker painting sells for $200,850 across 8 lots.

The median George Tooker work on paper sells for $2,500 across 1 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) George Tooker prints typically sell for $590–$1,469 (the middle half of 46 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) George Tooker prints typically sell for $770–$1,750 (the middle half of 29 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 | 84 | $1,125†‡ | $6,240 | 92.9% | 2026-10-29 |
| Paintings | 9 | $200,850 | $444,500 | 88.9% | 2025-10-28 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | — | 2014-06-12 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $214,200 | $444,500 | — | 2024-05-16 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

George Tooker's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (84 lots) median $1,125 with 92.9% sell-through. Paintings (9 lots) median $200,850, record $444,500. A typical George Tooker painting sells for around 179× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $214,200.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 29 | $770–$1,750† | $1,200† | $3,750 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 46 | $590–$1,469†‡ | $1,042†‡ | $6,240 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $145,875–$384,225 | $213,450 | $444,500 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2024 | $444,500 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $432,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $6,240 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $3,800 |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $2,500 |

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 George Tooker worth?

Across 94 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a George Tooker work is $1,187. The median George Tooker print sells for $1,125 across 78 lots. The median George Tooker painting sells for $200,850 across 8 lots. The median George Tooker work on paper sells for $2,500 across 1 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) George Tooker prints typically sell for $590–$1,469 (the middle half of 46 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) George Tooker prints typically sell for $770–$1,750 (the middle half of 29 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 Tooker print?

Based on 78 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a George Tooker print is $1,125. 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 Tooker's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a George Tooker print is $6,240.

### What is the average price of a medium George Tooker print?

Based on 46 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium George Tooker print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,042, 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 the average price of a small George Tooker print?

Based on 29 sold lots, the median auction price of a small George Tooker print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,200, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is George Tooker's auction record?

George Tooker's auction record is $444,500, set in 2024.

---

Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “George Tooker auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/george-tooker (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.