James Lesesne Wells (1902–1993)
James Lesesne Wells is an American artist with 79 auction lots recorded since 2005, median price $2,375. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.
A work by James Lesesne Wells sold in 2025 for a hammer price of $4,500 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full James Lesesne Wells record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Lesesne Wells on OpeningBid →What is a James Lesesne Wells work worth?
Across 53 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Lesesne Wells work is $2,375.
The median James Lesesne Wells print sells for $2,000 across 29 lots.
The median James Lesesne Wells work on paper sells for $3,500 across 8 lots.
The median James Lesesne Wells painting sells for $10,138 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 | 32 | $2,000† | $9,375 | 90.6% | 2024-10-03 |
| Paintings | 3 | $10,138 | $11,875 | 66.7% | 2023-04-06 |
| Works on Paper | 9 | $3,500† | $5,280 | 88.9% | 2025-03-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $11,875 | $12,500 | — | 2023-04-06 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
James Lesesne Wells's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (32 lots) median $2,000 with 90.6% sell-through. Paintings (3 lots) median $10,138, record $11,875. A typical James Lesesne Wells painting sells for around 5.1× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $11,875.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 19 | $1,438–$4,000† | $2,000† | $9,375 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $1,320–$2,210† | $1,750† | $2,500 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $1,562–$4,875 | $3,500 | $5,280 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2023 | $11,875 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $9,375 |
| Paintings | 2010 | $8,400 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $6,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2009 | $5,280 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $5,000 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a James Lesesne Wells worth?
Across 53 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Lesesne Wells work is $2,375. The median James Lesesne Wells print sells for $2,000 across 29 lots. The median James Lesesne Wells work on paper sells for $3,500 across 8 lots. The median James Lesesne Wells painting sells for $10,138 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 the average price of a James Lesesne Wells print?
Based on 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Lesesne Wells print is $2,000. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is James Lesesne Wells's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a James Lesesne Wells print is $9,375.
What is the average price of a small James Lesesne Wells print?
Based on 19 sold lots, the median auction price of a small James Lesesne Wells print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is James Lesesne Wells's auction record?
James Lesesne Wells's auction record is $12,500, set in 2020.
See the full James Lesesne Wells record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Lesesne Wells on OpeningBid →