Joel-peter Witkin (b. 1939)
What is Joel-peter Witkin’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 159 auction results for Joel-peter Witkin at 32 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,168 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,678–$2,847, n=15). The auction record is $40,800 for 'PRINTEMPS, NEW MEXICO' (2007, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'PRINTEMPS, NEW MEXICO' | — | $40,800 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| 2 | Le Baiser, New Mexico, 1939 | Gelatin silver print | $30,240 | Christie's | Oct 2007 |
| 3 | Harvest, Philadelphia, 1984 | Cartes-de-visite | $26,250 | Phillips | Apr 2014 |
| 4 | Counting Lesson in Purgatory, New Mexico, 1982 | Cartes-de-visite | $21,250 | Phillips | Oct 2014 |
| 5 | Studio de Winter, Paris, 1994 | Silver print with touches of colouring | $15,741 | Sotheby's | Nov 2009 |
| 6 | 'DAPHNE AND APOLLO, LOS ANGELES' | — | $15,600 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| 7 | 'STUDIO DE WINTER' | — | $15,600 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| 8 | Studio of the Painter, Courbet, Paris, 1990 | Cartes-de-visite | $15,000 | Phillips | Oct 2013 |
| 9 | 'LA BETE' | — | $14,400 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| 10 | Face of a Woman, Marseilles | Toned gelatin silver print | $12,500 | Phillips | Apr 2013 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 41 | $4,000 |
| Photographs | 80 | $3,410 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 21 | $5,871 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 69 | $3,370 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 159 results from 32 houses · How we compute these figures
Joel-peter Witkin is an American artist with 257 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $3,302. 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 Joel-peter Witkin sold in 2025 for $3,354, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Joel-peter Witkin record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Joel-peter Witkin on OpeningBid →What is a Joel-peter Witkin work worth?
Across 156 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joel-peter Witkin work is $3,302.
The median Joel-peter Witkin photograph sells for $3,120 across 129 lots.
The median Joel-peter Witkin print sells for $1,101 across 5 lots.
The median Joel-peter Witkin work on paper sells for $1,663 across 2 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Joel-peter Witkin photographs typically sell for $1,779–$4,634 (the middle half of 76 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Joel-peter Witkin photographs typically sell for $2,800–$8,565 (the middle half of 33 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 | 5 | $1,101‡ | $6,960 | — | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $1,663 | $3,200 | — | 2007-11-15 |
| Photography | 173 | $3,120†‡ | $30,240 | 74.6% | 2026-10-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $18,495 | $40,800 | — | 2014-10-01 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 76 | $1,779–$4,634†‡ | $3,012†‡ | $30,240 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 33 | $2,800–$8,565†‡ | $5,090†‡ | $15,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2007 | $30,240 |
| Photography | 2014 | $26,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $6,960 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $3,200 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $2,794 |
| Works on Paper | 2000 | $126 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Joel-peter Witkin worth?
Across 156 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joel-peter Witkin work is $3,302. The median Joel-peter Witkin photograph sells for $3,120 across 129 lots. The median Joel-peter Witkin print sells for $1,101 across 5 lots. The median Joel-peter Witkin work on paper sells for $1,663 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Joel-peter Witkin photographs typically sell for $1,779–$4,634 (the middle half of 76 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Joel-peter Witkin photographs typically sell for $2,800–$8,565 (the middle half of 33 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 Joel-peter Witkin photograph?
Based on 129 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joel-peter Witkin photograph is $3,120. 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 Joel-peter Witkin's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Joel-peter Witkin photograph is $30,240.
What is the average price of a small Joel-peter Witkin photograph?
Based on 76 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Joel-peter Witkin photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,012, 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 medium Joel-peter Witkin photograph?
Based on 33 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Joel-peter Witkin photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,090, 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 Joel-peter Witkin's auction record?
Joel-peter Witkin's auction record is $30,240, set in 2007.
See the full Joel-peter Witkin record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Joel-peter Witkin on OpeningBid →