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

# Irving Petlin (1934–2018)

Irving Petlin is an American artist with 38 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $1,178. 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 Irving Petlin sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $4,313 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Irving Petlin work worth?

Across 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Irving Petlin work is $1,178.

The median Irving Petlin work on paper sells for $1,470 across 14 lots.

The median Irving Petlin painting sells for $1,077 across 8 lots.

The median Irving Petlin print sells for $150 across 1 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 | $150 | $150 | 50% | 2024-09-17 |
| Paintings | 8 | $1,077 | $4,081 | — | 2026-03-12 |
| Works on Paper | 15 | $1,470†‡ | $6,350 | 93.3% | 2025-12-11 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Irving Petlin's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $150 with 50% sell-through. Paintings (8 lots) median $1,077, record $4,081. A typical Irving Petlin painting sells for around 7.2× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 12 | $946–$2,348†‡ | $1,470†‡ | $6,350 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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 | 2025 | $6,350 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $4,081 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $3,250 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $1,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $150 |

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 Irving Petlin worth?

Across 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Irving Petlin work is $1,178. The median Irving Petlin work on paper sells for $1,470 across 14 lots. The median Irving Petlin painting sells for $1,077 across 8 lots. The median Irving Petlin print sells for $150 across 1 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 Irving Petlin work on paper?

Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Irving Petlin work on paper is $1,470. 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 Irving Petlin's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Irving Petlin work on paper is $6,350.

### What is the average price of a medium Irving Petlin work on paper?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Irving Petlin work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,470, 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 Irving Petlin's auction record?

Irving Petlin's auction record is $6,350, set in 2025.

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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, “Irving Petlin auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/irving-petlin (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.