James Lee Byars (1932–1997)
James Lee Byars is an American artist with 13 auction lots recorded since 2016, median price $1,215. 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 James Lee Byars is recorded as sold in 2024 for $2,811; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full James Lee Byars record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Lee Byars on OpeningBid →What is a James Lee Byars work worth?
Across 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Lee Byars work is $1,215.
The median James Lee Byars work on paper sells for $8,279 across 3 lots.
The median James Lee Byars print sells for $594 across 2 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 | 3 | $594 | $805 | 66.7% | 2022-11-17 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $8,279† | $11,688 | — | 2022-09-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $11,688 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $8,279 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $805 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $383 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a James Lee Byars worth?
Across 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Lee Byars work is $1,215. The median James Lee Byars work on paper sells for $8,279 across 3 lots. The median James Lee Byars print sells for $594 across 2 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 James Lee Byars's auction record?
James Lee Byars's auction record is $11,688, set in 2016.
See the full James Lee Byars record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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