Jack Whitten (1939–2018)
What is Jack Whitten’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 56 auction results for Jack Whitten at 5 houses since 2013. Over the last 24 months the median price was $39,370 including buyer’s premium (middle half $20,637–$122,518, n=16). The auction record is $1,320,000 for Cultural Shift (Let's Celebrate Lena Horne) A.K.A. The Lena Horne Jubilee (2022, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cultural Shift (Let's Celebrate Lena Horne) A.K.A. The Lena Horne Jubilee, 2010 | Acrylic paint | $1,320,000 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 2 | The Eleventh Loop (Dedicated To The Memory Of Adrienne Rich), 2012 | Acrylic paint | $1,230,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 3 | Alpha Group III, 1975 | Acrylic paint | $1,143,000 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 4 | Crystal Palace: For Jeanne Siegel, 2014 | Acrylic paint | $1,010,000 | Christie's | May 2021 |
| 5 | Top Hat Triptych, 1983 | Oil and acrylic on 3 canvases | $856,300 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 6 | Space Busters III, 2014 | Painting | $539,529 | Phillips | Mar 2022 |
| 7 | Garden in Bessemer, 1986 | Acrylic paint | $500,000 | Christie's | Sep 2023 |
| 8 | Bright Moments: For R.R. Kirk, 1995 | Painting | $462,325 | Phillips | Mar 2018 |
| 9 | Grey Soul, 1969 | Acrylic paint | $406,400 | Christie's | Sep 2025 |
| 10 | Crushed Grid, 2013 | Acrylic on canvas | $381,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 22 | $201,600 |
| Other | 9 | $31,250 |
| Works on paper | 22 | $23,750 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $500,000 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 21 | $35,280 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 24 | $25,625 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 56 results from 5 houses · How we compute these figures
Jack Whitten is an American artist with 64 auction lots recorded since 2011, median price $33,020.
A work by Jack Whitten sold in 2025 for $70,950, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Jack Whitten record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jack Whitten on OpeningBid →What is a Jack Whitten work worth?
Across 56 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jack Whitten work is $33,020.
The median Jack Whitten painting sells for $199,300 across 22 lots.
The median Jack Whitten work on paper sells for $24,375 across 22 lots.
The median Jack Whitten print sells for $11,600 across 2 lots.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2 | $11,600 | $13,750 | — | 2022-03-10 |
| Paintings | 25 | $199,300 | $1.3M | 88% | 2025-11-21 |
| Works on Paper | 24 | $24,375 | $55,000 | 91.7% | 2026-06-25 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $539,529 | $539,529 | — | 2022-03-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 16 | $434,362 | $1.3M | — | 2025-09-30 |
Jack Whitten's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $11,600. Paintings (25 lots) median $199,300, record $1,320,000. A typical Jack Whitten painting sells for around 17× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 16 lots) the median is $434,362.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $75,088–$179,325 | $100,000 | $201,600 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $31,500–$202,075 | $60,212 | $1.1M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $400,050–$1.1M | $481,162 | $1.3M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $16,414–$30,312 | $23,125 | $35,863 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $20,910–$34,650 | $25,100 | $55,000 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2022 | $1.3M |
| Paintings | 2021 | $1.2M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $539,529 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $55,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $47,880 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $13,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $9,450 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Jack Whitten worth?
Across 56 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jack Whitten work is $33,020. The median Jack Whitten painting sells for $199,300 across 22 lots. The median Jack Whitten work on paper sells for $24,375 across 22 lots. The median Jack Whitten print sells for $11,600 across 2 lots.
What is the average price of a Jack Whitten painting?
Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jack Whitten painting is $199,300.
What is Jack Whitten's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jack Whitten painting is $1,320,000.
What is the average price of a Jack Whitten work on paper?
Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jack Whitten work on paper is $24,375.
What is Jack Whitten's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jack Whitten work on paper is $55,000.
What is the average price of a small Jack Whitten work on paper?
Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Jack Whitten work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $23,125, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is the average price of a medium Jack Whitten work on paper?
Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jack Whitten work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $25,100, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Jack Whitten's auction record?
Jack Whitten's auction record is $1,320,000, set in 2022.
See the full Jack Whitten record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jack Whitten on OpeningBid →