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

# Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011)

Helen Frankenthaler is an American artist with 190 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $7,611. 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 Helen Frankenthaler sold in 2026 for $30,030, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Helen Frankenthaler work worth?

Across 178 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Helen Frankenthaler work is $7,611.

The median Helen Frankenthaler print sells for $6,000 across 127 lots.

The median Helen Frankenthaler painting sells for $318,006 across 38 lots.

The median Helen Frankenthaler work on paper sells for $74,169 across 3 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Helen Frankenthaler prints typically sell for $4,112–$9,569 (the middle half of 80 sold lots).

Large (over 120 cm) Helen Frankenthaler paintings typically sell for $313,210–$931,040 (the middle half of 22 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 | 134 | $6,000†‡ | $155,091 | 94.8% | 2026-06-04 |
| Paintings | 38 | $318,006† | $4.7M | — | 2026-05-21 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $74,169 | $180,618 | — | 2016-05-11 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 33 | $362,500 | $4.7M | — | 2026-04-14 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Helen Frankenthaler's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (134 lots) median $6,000 with 94.8% sell-through. Paintings (38 lots) median $318,006, record $4,739,000. A typical Helen Frankenthaler painting sells for around 53× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 33 lots) the median is $362,500.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $2,250–$7,045† | $4,728† | $11,610 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 80 | $4,112–$9,569† | $5,777† | $88,856 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 14 | $15,314–$47,732† | $36,734† | $155,091 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $70,877–$116,880 | $83,716 | $130,291 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $53,954–$301,997† | $154,360† | $533,972 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 22 | $313,210–$931,040 | $464,257 | $4.7M |

† 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 | 2020 | $4.7M |
| Paintings | 2020 | $3M |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $180,618 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $155,091 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $150,848 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $74,169 |

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 Helen Frankenthaler worth?

Across 178 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Helen Frankenthaler work is $7,611. The median Helen Frankenthaler print sells for $6,000 across 127 lots. The median Helen Frankenthaler painting sells for $318,006 across 38 lots. The median Helen Frankenthaler work on paper sells for $74,169 across 3 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Helen Frankenthaler prints typically sell for $4,112–$9,569 (the middle half of 80 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Helen Frankenthaler paintings typically sell for $313,210–$931,040 (the middle half of 22 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 Helen Frankenthaler print?

Based on 127 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Helen Frankenthaler print is $6,000. 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 Helen Frankenthaler's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Helen Frankenthaler print is $155,091.

### What is the average price of a Helen Frankenthaler painting?

Based on 38 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Helen Frankenthaler painting is $318,006. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Helen Frankenthaler's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Helen Frankenthaler painting is $4,739,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Helen Frankenthaler print?

Based on 80 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Helen Frankenthaler print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,777, 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 Helen Frankenthaler painting?

Based on 22 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Helen Frankenthaler painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $464,257, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Helen Frankenthaler's auction record?

Helen Frankenthaler's auction record is $4,739,000, set in 2020.

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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, “Helen Frankenthaler auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/helen-frankenthaler (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.