Joel Sternfeld (b. 1944)
What is Joel Sternfeld’s work worth?
As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 136 auction results for Joel Sternfeld at 15 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,400 including buyer’s premium (middle half $794–$22,860, n=9). The auction record is $274,164 for On This Site: Landscape in Memoriam (2004, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | On This Site: Landscape in Memoriam, 1993-1996 | 53 color coupler prints | $274,164 | Christie's | Apr 2004 |
| 2 | McLean, Virginia, December, 1978, 1978 | Color coupler print | $171,562 | Christie's | Apr 2006 |
| 3 | 'mclean, virginia, december 4, 1978' | Oversized dye-transfer print, mounted, signed, titled, dated, and inscribed 'Number four in an edition of ten,' and with other annotations by the photographer in ink on the mount, matted, 1978, printed in 1985, no. 4 in an edition of 10 in this size format | $59,375 | Sotheby's | Oct 2008 |
| 4 | McLean, Virginia, December 4, 2004 | Hand coloring | $47,307 | Phillips | Nov 2015 |
| 5 | McLean, Virginia, December 4, 1978, 1982 | Ink | $45,600 | Christie's | Apr 2007 |
| 6 | McLean, Virginia, December 4, 1978, 1987 | Ink | $43,000 | Christie's | Apr 2008 |
| 7 | McLean, Virginia, 1978, 1990 | Dye transfer print | $37,800 | Christie's | Oct 2024 |
| 8 | 'mclean, virginia' | Dye-transfer print, signed, titled, dated, and annotated by the photographer in ink on the reverse, matted, 1978, printed in 1983 (American Prospects, pl. 30; On the Art of Fixing a Shadow, pl. 373) | $29,800 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 9 | McLean, Virginia, December 4, 1985 | Dye transfer print, printed 1985 | $27,500 | Phillips | Jul 2020 |
| 10 | Asile 2, Row 3, Seat 5, Texas Theater, 231 W. Jefferson Street, Dallas, Texas, November, 1993, 1993 | Tirage chromogénique | $27,083 | Christie's | Nov 2012 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 107 | $5,250 |
| Other | 16 | $1,010 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 21 | $11,250 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 27 | $5,000 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 50 | $3,833 |
Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 136 results from 15 houses · How we compute these figures
Joel Sternfeld is an American artist with 203 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $4,633. 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 Sternfeld sold in 2026 for $22,860, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Joel Sternfeld record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Joel Sternfeld on OpeningBid →What is a Joel Sternfeld work worth?
Across 136 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joel Sternfeld work is $4,633.
The median Joel Sternfeld photograph sells for $4,440 across 117 lots.
The median Joel Sternfeld print sells for $8,000 across 5 lots.
The median Joel Sternfeld work on paper sells for $44,300 across 2 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Joel Sternfeld photographs typically sell for $1,740–$13,072 (the middle half of 51 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Joel Sternfeld photographs typically sell for $2,631–$6,958 (the middle half of 26 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 | 8 | $8,000 | $274,164 | 62.5% | 2025-11-25 |
| Works on Paper | 4 | $44,300 | $45,600 | 50% | 2008-04-11 |
| Photography | 144 | $4,440†‡ | $171,562 | 81.3% | 2026-09-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $47,307 | $274,164 | — | 2024-10-02 |
† 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) | 51 | $1,740–$13,072‡ | $3,400‡ | $27,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 26 | $2,631–$6,958† | $5,000† | $27,083 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 21 | $8,125–$20,000 | $11,250 | $171,562 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2004 | $274,164 |
| Photography | 2006 | $171,562 |
| Photography | 2015 | $47,307 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $45,600 |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $43,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $15,000 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Joel Sternfeld worth?
Across 136 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joel Sternfeld work is $4,633. The median Joel Sternfeld photograph sells for $4,440 across 117 lots. The median Joel Sternfeld print sells for $8,000 across 5 lots. The median Joel Sternfeld work on paper sells for $44,300 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Joel Sternfeld photographs typically sell for $1,740–$13,072 (the middle half of 51 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Joel Sternfeld photographs typically sell for $2,631–$6,958 (the middle half of 26 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 Sternfeld photograph?
Based on 117 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joel Sternfeld photograph is $4,440. 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 Sternfeld's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Joel Sternfeld photograph is $171,562.
What is the average price of a small Joel Sternfeld photograph?
Based on 51 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Joel Sternfeld photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,400, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a medium Joel Sternfeld photograph?
Based on 26 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Joel Sternfeld photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Joel Sternfeld's auction record?
Joel Sternfeld's auction record is $274,164, set in 2004.
See the full Joel Sternfeld record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Joel Sternfeld on OpeningBid →