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

# Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000)

## What is Jacob Lawrence’s work worth? {#value}

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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 16 | $359,000 |
| Other | 7 | $120,650 |
| Works on paper | 21 | $69,300 |
| Prints | 297 | $5,000 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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).

- [Jacob Lawrence on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jacob-lawrence?ref=kg:jacob-lawrence) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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, “Jacob Lawrence auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jacob-lawrence (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.