Joan Mitchell (1926–1992)
What is Joan Mitchell’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 669 auction results for Joan Mitchell at 42 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $61,200 including buyer’s premium (middle half $22,850–$462,900, n=86). The auction record is $29,160,000 for Untitled (oil on canvas) (2023, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1959 | Oil paint | $29,160,000 | Christie's | Nov 2023 |
| 2 | Sunflowers, 1990 | Oil paint | $27,910,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |
| 3 | Noon, 1969 | Oil on canvas | $22,615,400 | Sotheby's | May 2024 |
| 4 | La Grande Vallée VII, 1983 | Oil paint | $17,576,874 | Sotheby's | Mar 2022 |
| 5 | City Landscape, 1955 | Oil paint | $17,085,000 | Christie's | Nov 2024 |
| 6 | Sunflower V, 1969 | Oil paint | $16,735,000 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| 7 | Blueberry, 1969 | Oil paint | $16,625,000 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 8 | Cherchez l’aiguille, 1958 | Oil on canvas | $16,243,219 | Christie's | May 2026 |
| 9 | Untitled, 1957 | Oil paint | $14,290,000 | Phillips | Nov 2025 |
| 10 | Untitled (oil on canvas diptych), 1989 | Painting | $14,130,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 210 | $1,551,500 |
| Other | 31 | $512,325 |
| Works on paper | 52 | $150,600 |
| Prints | 328 | $6,000 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 179 | $1,528,000 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 79 | $89,600 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 325 | $8,125 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 669 results from 42 houses · How we compute these figures
Joan Mitchell is an American artist with 739 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $35,240. 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 Joan Mitchell sold in 2026 for $48,640, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
12 Joan Mitchell works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Joan Mitchell free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Joan Mitchell record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Joan Mitchell on OpeningBid →What is a Joan Mitchell work worth?
Across 662 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joan Mitchell work is $35,240.
The median Joan Mitchell print sells for $5,623 across 334 lots.
The median Joan Mitchell painting sells for $1,551,500 across 224 lots.
The median Joan Mitchell work on paper sells for $150,600 across 60 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Joan Mitchell prints typically sell for $2,328–$11,318 (the middle half of 246 sold lots).
Large (over 120 cm) Joan Mitchell paintings typically sell for $1,215,790–$7,849,250 (the middle half of 127 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 | 358 | $5,623†‡ | $321,390 | 93.3% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 229 | $1.6M† | $29.2M | 97.8% | 2026-05-21 |
| Works on Paper | 61 | $150,600‡ | $825,500 | — | 2026-10-17 |
| Photography | 1 | $50,400 | $50,400 | — | 2023-05-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 281 | $959,500‡ | $29.2M | — | 2026-10-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Joan Mitchell's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (358 lots) median $5,623 with 93.3% sell-through. Paintings (229 lots) median $1,551,500, record $29,160,000. A typical Joan Mitchell painting sells for around 276× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 281 lots) the median is $959,500.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 27 | $2,200–$7,250† | $4,080† | $20,664 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 246 | $2,328–$11,318†‡ | $4,540†‡ | $321,390 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 53 | $9,562–$51,200†‡ | $27,812†‡ | $189,000 |
† 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) | 26 | $225,880–$585,550 | $427,950 | $2.5M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 62 | $313,975–$1.6M† | $753,750† | $5.1M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 127 | $1.2M–$7.8M | $3.9M | $29.2M |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 30 | $62,326–$183,562‡ | $133,250‡ | $825,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 22 | $38,575–$409,913 | $150,600 | $806,500 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2023 | $29.2M |
| Paintings | 2023 | $27.9M |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $825,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $806,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $321,390 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $189,000 |
| Photography | 2023 | $50,400 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Joan Mitchell worth?
Across 662 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joan Mitchell work is $35,240. The median Joan Mitchell print sells for $5,623 across 334 lots. The median Joan Mitchell painting sells for $1,551,500 across 224 lots. The median Joan Mitchell work on paper sells for $150,600 across 60 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Joan Mitchell prints typically sell for $2,328–$11,318 (the middle half of 246 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Joan Mitchell paintings typically sell for $1,215,790–$7,849,250 (the middle half of 127 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 Joan Mitchell print?
Based on 334 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joan Mitchell print is $5,623. 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 Joan Mitchell's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Joan Mitchell print is $321,390.
What is the average price of a Joan Mitchell painting?
Based on 224 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joan Mitchell painting is $1,551,500. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Joan Mitchell's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Joan Mitchell painting is $29,160,000.
What is the average price of a Joan Mitchell work on paper?
Based on 60 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joan Mitchell work on paper is $150,600. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Joan Mitchell's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Joan Mitchell work on paper is $825,500.
What is the average price of a medium Joan Mitchell print?
Based on 246 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Joan Mitchell print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,540, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. 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 large Joan Mitchell painting?
Based on 127 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Joan Mitchell painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $3,902,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Joan Mitchell's auction record?
Joan Mitchell's auction record is $29,160,000, set in 2023.
See the full Joan Mitchell record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Joan Mitchell on OpeningBid →