James Surls (b. 1943)
James Surls is an American artist with 26 auction lots recorded since 2013, median price $3,962. 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 Surls sold in 2023 for a hammer price of $20,000 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full James Surls record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Surls on OpeningBid →What is a James Surls work worth?
Across 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Surls work is $3,962.
The median James Surls sculpture sells for $12,380 across 4 lots.
The median James Surls work on paper sells for $2,650 across 2 lots.
The median James Surls print sells for $606 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 | 2 | $606‡ | $750‡ | — | 2025-12-05 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $2,650 | $4,800 | — | 2021-02-05 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 8 | $12,380† | $20,000† | 50% | 2023-07-29 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $20,000† |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $15,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $4,800 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $750‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $462 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a James Surls worth?
Across 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Surls work is $3,962. The median James Surls sculpture sells for $12,380 across 4 lots. The median James Surls work on paper sells for $2,650 across 2 lots. The median James Surls print sells for $606 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 Surls's auction record?
James Surls's auction record is $20,000, set in 2023. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $20,000 (buyer's premium not included).
See the full James Surls record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Surls on OpeningBid →