> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jean-michel-basquiat · updated 2026-11-02

# Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988)

## What is Jean-Michel Basquiat’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 857 auction results for Jean-Michel Basquiat at 43 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $474,250 including buyer’s premium (middle half $48,743–$2,244,290, n=76). The auction record is $94,160,000 for Il Duce (2022, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Il Duce, 1982 | Painting | $94,160,000 | Christie's | Mar 2022 |
| 2 | In This Case, 1983 | Acrylic paint | $93,105,000 | Christie's | May 2021 |
| 3 | Untitled (acrylic and spray paint on canvas), 1982 | Acrylic paint | $85,000,000 | Phillips | May 2022 |
| 4 | El Gran Espectaculo (The Nile), 1983 | Acrylic paint | $67,110,000 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 5 | Untitled (acrylic on canvas), 1982 | Acrylic paint | $57,285,000 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 6 | Museum Security (Broadway Meltdown), 1983 | Acrylic, oilstick and collage on canvas | $52,717,500 | Sotheby's | May 2026 |
| 7 | Versus Medici, 1982 | Acrylic, oilstick and paper collage on three joined canvases | $50,820,000 | Sotheby's | May 2021 |
| 8 | Dustheads, 1982 | Painting | $48,843,750 | Christie's | May 2013 |
| 9 | Crowns (Peso Neto), 1981 | Painting | $48,335,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 10 | Untitled (ELMAR), 1982 | Painting | $46,479,000 | Phillips | May 2024 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 244 | $3,331,116 |
| Other | 239 | $319,819 |
| Works on paper | 194 | $171,031 |
| Prints | 114 | $24,531 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 266 | $3,200,185 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 302 | $259,132 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 145 | $75,000 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 857 results from 43 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Jean-Michel Basquiat is an American artist with 1,023 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $351,231. 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 Jean-Michel Basquiat sold in 2026 for $1,185,562, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**7 Jean-Michel Basquiat works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Jean-Michel Basquiat on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jean-michel-basquiat?ref=kg:jean-michel-basquiat) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Jean-Michel Basquiat work worth?

Across 850 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean-Michel Basquiat work is $351,231.

The median Jean-Michel Basquiat painting sells for $1,996,000 across 348 lots.

The median Jean-Michel Basquiat work on paper sells for $250,000 across 185 lots.

The median Jean-Michel Basquiat print sells for $22,500 across 145 lots.

Large (over 120 cm) Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings typically sell for $1,788,318–$10,623,102 (the middle half of 200 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings typically sell for $237,559–$2,003,000 (the middle half of 119 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 | 169 | $22,500†‡ | $3.3M | 85.8% | 2026-10-14 |
| Paintings | 373 | $2M | $94.2M | 93.3% | 2026-10-01 |
| Works on Paper | 207 | $250,000 | $16.4M | 89.4% | 2026-09-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $331‡ | $331‡ | — | 2023-07-20 |
| Photography | 5 | $39,345 | $83,200 | — | 2026-09-21 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 535 | $1.4M‡ | $94.2M | — | 2026-10-24 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Jean-Michel Basquiat's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (169 lots) median $22,500 with 85.8% sell-through. Paintings (373 lots) median $1,996,000, record $94,160,000. A typical Jean-Michel Basquiat painting sells for around 89× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 535 lots) the median is $1,381,000.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 17 | $956–$19,062‡ | $2,000‡ | $342,900 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 77 | $6,527–$34,403†‡ | $19,231†‡ | $324,500 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 31 | $58,800–$366,786‡ | $93,750‡ | $3.3M |

† 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) | 25 | $122,167–$390,600 | $201,600 | $1.5M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 119 | $237,559–$2M | $627,750 | $12M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 200 | $1.8M–$10.6M | $4.7M | $94.2M |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 68 | $43,434–$317,125 | $97,625 | $2.4M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 96 | $134,691–$861,568 | $360,500 | $9M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $398,315–$6.6M | $2.6M | $16.4M |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2022 | $94.2M |
| Paintings | 2021 | $93.1M |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $16.4M |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $10.6M |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $3.3M |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $2.5M |
| Photography | 2026 | $83,200 |
| Photography | 2026 | $83,200 |

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 Jean-Michel Basquiat worth?

Across 850 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean-Michel Basquiat work is $351,231. The median Jean-Michel Basquiat painting sells for $1,996,000 across 348 lots. The median Jean-Michel Basquiat work on paper sells for $250,000 across 185 lots. The median Jean-Michel Basquiat print sells for $22,500 across 145 lots. Large (over 120 cm) Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings typically sell for $1,788,318–$10,623,102 (the middle half of 200 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings typically sell for $237,559–$2,003,000 (the middle half of 119 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 Jean-Michel Basquiat painting?

Based on 348 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting is $1,996,000.

### What is Jean-Michel Basquiat's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting is $94,160,000.

### What is the average price of a Jean-Michel Basquiat work on paper?

Based on 185 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean-Michel Basquiat work on paper is $250,000.

### What is Jean-Michel Basquiat's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean-Michel Basquiat work on paper is $16,365,000.

### What is the average price of a Jean-Michel Basquiat print?

Based on 145 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean-Michel Basquiat print is $22,500. 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 Jean-Michel Basquiat's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean-Michel Basquiat print is $3,301,277.

### What is the average price of a large Jean-Michel Basquiat painting?

Based on 200 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Jean-Michel Basquiat painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $4,701,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is the average price of a medium Jean-Michel Basquiat painting?

Based on 119 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jean-Michel Basquiat painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $627,750, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Jean-Michel Basquiat's auction record?

Jean-Michel Basquiat's auction record is $94,160,000, set in 2022.

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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, “Jean-Michel Basquiat auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jean-michel-basquiat (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.