> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/james-thomas · updated 2026-11-01

# James Thomas (1925–1994)

James Thomas is an American/Mississippi artist with 34 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $1,800. 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 Thomas sold in 2021 for a hammer price of $2,200 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a James Thomas work worth?

Across 33 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Thomas work is $1,800.

The median James Thomas sculpture sells for $2,300 across 23 lots.

The median James Thomas painting sells for $509 across 3 lots.

The median James Thomas print sells for $224 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) James Thomas sculptures typically sell for $1,750–$3,000 (the middle half of 23 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 | 2 | $224† | $403 | — | 2013-07-11 |
| Paintings | 3 | $509‡ | $584‡ | — | 2012-02-15 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $926‡ | $926‡ | — | 2009-06-17 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 23 | $2,300† | $5,000† | — | 2021-04-29 |
| Photography | 1 | $400† | $400† | — | 2019-10-13 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

James Thomas's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $224. Paintings (3 lots) median $509, record $584. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical James Thomas painting sells for around 2.3× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 23 | $1,750–$3,000† | $2,300† | $5,000† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $5,000† |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $4,500† |
| Works on Paper | 2009 | $926‡ |
| Paintings | 2011 | $584‡ |
| Paintings | 2010 | $509‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2003 | $403 |
| Photography | 2019 | $400† |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $45† |

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

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a James Thomas worth?

Across 33 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Thomas work is $1,800. The median James Thomas sculpture sells for $2,300 across 23 lots. The median James Thomas painting sells for $509 across 3 lots. The median James Thomas print sells for $224 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) James Thomas sculptures typically sell for $1,750–$3,000 (the middle half of 23 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 James Thomas sculpture?

Based on 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Thomas sculpture is $2,300. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is James Thomas's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a James Thomas sculpture is $5,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $5,000 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a small James Thomas sculpture?

Based on 23 sold lots, the median auction price of a small James Thomas sculpture (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,300, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is James Thomas's auction record?

James Thomas's auction record is $5,000, set in 2019. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $5,000 (buyer's premium not included).

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “James Thomas auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/james-thomas (updated 2026-11-01).

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.