Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000)
What is Jacob Lawrence’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 416 auction results for Jacob Lawrence at 28 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $4,480 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,570–$8,255, n=49). The auction record is $4,470,000 for Red Earth – Georgia (2021, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Earth – Georgia, 1947 | Tempera | $4,470,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 2 | Billboards, 1952 | Tempera | $2,954,000 | Christie's | May 2024 |
| 3 | The Builders, 1917 | Tempera | $2,504,000 | Christie's | May 2007 |
| 4 | Students and Books, 1966 | Tempera on board | $2,246,000 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 5 | Flower Woman, 1948 | Tempera | $2,228,000 | Christie's | Apr 2025 |
| 6 | The Carpenters, 1946 | Graphite | $1,682,750 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| 7 | The Family | Tempera | $1,169,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2019 |
| 8 | Ventriloquist, 1917 | Tempera | $881,000 | Christie's | May 2008 |
| 9 | Builders—19 Men, 1979 | Gouache | $650,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 10 | Letter from Home, 1947 | Tempera | $636,500 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 16 | $359,000 |
| Other | 7 | $120,650 |
| Works on paper | 21 | $69,300 |
| Prints | 297 | $5,000 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 61 | $6,250 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 267 | $5,080 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 416 results from 28 houses · How we compute these figures
Jacob Lawrence is an American artist with 541 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $5,000. 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 Jacob Lawrence sold in 2026 for $10,795, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Jacob Lawrence works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Jacob Lawrence free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Jacob Lawrence record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jacob Lawrence on OpeningBid →What is a Jacob Lawrence work worth?
Across 410 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jacob Lawrence work is $5,000.
The median Jacob Lawrence print sells for $4,750 across 343 lots.
The median Jacob Lawrence painting sells for $359,000 across 20 lots.
The median Jacob Lawrence work on paper sells for $69,300 across 19 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Jacob Lawrence prints typically sell for $3,120–$6,875 (the middle half of 287 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Jacob Lawrence prints typically sell for $2,800–$7,875 (the middle half of 46 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 | 357 | $4,750†‡ | $173,000 | 96.1% | 2026-10-01 |
| Paintings | 24 | $359,000 | $4.5M | 83.3% | 2025-05-15 |
| Works on Paper | 21 | $69,300 | $1.7M | 90.5% | 2026-10-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 23 | $413,000 | $4.5M | — | 2026-10-01 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Jacob Lawrence's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (357 lots) median $4,750 with 96.1% sell-through. Paintings (24 lots) median $359,000, record $4,470,000. A typical Jacob Lawrence painting sells for around 76× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 23 lots) the median is $413,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 46 | $2,800–$7,875†‡ | $4,775†‡ | $40,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 287 | $3,120–$6,875† | $4,750† | $173,000 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $29,400–$146,500 | $67,200 | $413,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $305,000–$2.2M | $881,000 | $4.5M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $9,231–$72,100 | $13,750 | $212,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $34,844–$153,012 | $97,225 | $1.7M |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2021 | $4.5M |
| Paintings | 2024 | $3M |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $1.7M |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $461,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $173,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $130,000 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Jacob Lawrence worth?
Across 410 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jacob Lawrence work is $5,000. The median Jacob Lawrence print sells for $4,750 across 343 lots. The median Jacob Lawrence painting sells for $359,000 across 20 lots. The median Jacob Lawrence work on paper sells for $69,300 across 19 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Jacob Lawrence prints typically sell for $3,120–$6,875 (the middle half of 287 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Jacob Lawrence prints typically sell for $2,800–$7,875 (the middle half of 46 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 Jacob Lawrence print?
Based on 343 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jacob Lawrence print is $4,750. 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 Jacob Lawrence's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jacob Lawrence print is $173,000.
What is the average price of a Jacob Lawrence painting?
Based on 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jacob Lawrence painting is $359,000.
What is Jacob Lawrence's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jacob Lawrence painting is $4,470,000.
What is the average price of a Jacob Lawrence work on paper?
Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jacob Lawrence work on paper is $69,300.
What is Jacob Lawrence's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jacob Lawrence work on paper is $1,682,750.
What is the average price of a medium Jacob Lawrence print?
Based on 287 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jacob Lawrence print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,750, 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 small Jacob Lawrence print?
Based on 46 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Jacob Lawrence print (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,775, 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 Jacob Lawrence's auction record?
Jacob Lawrence's auction record is $4,470,000, set in 2021.
See the full Jacob Lawrence record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jacob Lawrence on OpeningBid →