> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-baldessari · updated 2026-11-02

# John Baldessari (1931–2020)

## What is John Baldessari’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 876 auction results for John Baldessari at 51 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,870 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,845–$13,970, n=129). The auction record is $1,874,500 for Painting for Kubler (2009, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Painting for Kubler, 1966-1968 | Acrylic paint | $1,874,500 | Christie's | May 2009 |
| 2 | A Painting by Edgar Transue, 1969 | Acrylic paint | $1,651,000 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| 3 | Three Active Persons (With Standing Person), 1990 | Acrylic and photograph collage on board | $1,361,631 | Christie's | May 2026 |
| 4 | Duck Pond Bar, National City, California, 1966 | Acrylic paint | $1,169,500 | Sotheby's | Dec 2020 |
| 5 | Source, 1987 | Vinyl paint on black and white photograph | $1,079,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |
| 6 | Kiss/Panic | Black and white photographs with oil tint, mounted on board in 11 parts | $992,000 | Sotheby's | May 2007 |
| 7 | Font, 1987 | Cartes-de-visite | $800,000 | Christie's | Nov 2006 |
| 8 | Beach Scene Nuns Nurse (with Choices), 1991 | Five panels--acrylic on color coupler prints | $744,000 | Christie's | May 2006 |
| 9 | Horizontal Men (With One Luxuriating), 1984 | Six gelatin silver prints mounted on board in artist's frame | $725,000 | Christie's | May 2015 |
| 10 | Figures at Beach/Figures on Mountain Peak, 1990 | Color | $576,000 | Christie's | May 2007 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 116 | $83,467 |
| Paintings | 35 | $56,700 |
| Other | 100 | $12,500 |
| Works on paper | 67 | $6,875 |
| Prints | 457 | $4,445 |
| Sculpture | 14 | $2,032 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 224 | $46,957 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 208 | $4,532 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 326 | $4,393 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 876 results from 51 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


John Baldessari is an American artist with 1,124 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $5,264. 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 John Baldessari sold in 2026 for $10,240, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**8 John Baldessari works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [John Baldessari on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-baldessari?ref=kg:john-baldessari) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a John Baldessari work worth?

Across 870 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Baldessari work is $5,264.

The median John Baldessari print sells for $4,772 across 549 lots.

The median John Baldessari photograph sells for $16,224 across 178 lots.

The median John Baldessari painting sells for $158,347 across 26 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) John Baldessari prints typically sell for $2,438–$8,125 (the middle half of 266 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) John Baldessari prints typically sell for $1,514–$8,515 (the middle half of 165 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 | 626 | $4,772†‡ | $575,529 | 87.7% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 29 | $158,347 | $1.9M | 89.7% | 2025-11-19 |
| Works on Paper | 21 | $5,782 | $576,000 | 85.7% | 2023-09-29 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 24 | $13,970 | $280,739 | 87.5% | 2026-02-02 |
| Photography | 215 | $16,224†‡ | $1.4M | 82.8% | 2026-09-21 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 117 | $237,500 | $1.9M | — | 2026-06-25 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

John Baldessari's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (626 lots) median $4,772 with 87.7% sell-through. Paintings (29 lots) median $158,347, record $1,874,500. A typical John Baldessari painting sells for around 33× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 117 lots) the median is $237,500.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 165 | $1,514–$8,515†‡ | $4,410†‡ | $235,060 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 266 | $2,438–$8,125†‡ | $4,364†‡ | $575,529 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 104 | $4,084–$48,852†‡ | $8,136†‡ | $485,000 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $375–$221,000 | $375 | $1.7M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 16 | $82,831–$465,125 | $195,423 | $1.9M |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $3,450–$6,875 | $5,938 | $203,731 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $4,141–$16,909 | $5,416 | $118,750 |

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 13 | $13,970–$139,700 | $30,960 | $280,739 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 31 | $1,500–$9,781†‡ | $5,120†‡ | $287,875 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 54 | $1,767–$19,014†‡ | $4,638†‡ | $173,546 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 81 | $43,465–$339,187† | $150,423† | $1.4M |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2009 | $1.9M |
| Paintings | 2025 | $1.7M |
| Photography | 2026 | $1.4M |
| Photography | 2006 | $800,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $576,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $575,529 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $485,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $293,000 |

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 John Baldessari worth?

Across 870 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Baldessari work is $5,264. The median John Baldessari print sells for $4,772 across 549 lots. The median John Baldessari photograph sells for $16,224 across 178 lots. The median John Baldessari painting sells for $158,347 across 26 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) John Baldessari prints typically sell for $2,438–$8,125 (the middle half of 266 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) John Baldessari prints typically sell for $1,514–$8,515 (the middle half of 165 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 John Baldessari print?

Based on 549 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Baldessari print is $4,772. 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 John Baldessari's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Baldessari print is $575,529.

### What is the average price of a John Baldessari photograph?

Based on 178 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Baldessari photograph is $16,224. 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 John Baldessari's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Baldessari photograph is $1,361,631.

### What is the average price of a John Baldessari painting?

Based on 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Baldessari painting is $158,347.

### What is John Baldessari's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Baldessari painting is $1,874,500.

### What is the average price of a medium John Baldessari print?

Based on 266 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium John Baldessari print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,364, 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 small John Baldessari print?

Based on 165 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Baldessari print (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,410, 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 John Baldessari's auction record?

John Baldessari's auction record is $1,874,500, set in 2009.

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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, “John Baldessari auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-baldessari (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.