> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-giorno · updated 2026-11-03

# John Giorno (1936–2015)

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

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 25 auction results for John Giorno at 10 houses since 2017. Over the last 24 months the median price was $10,059 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,136–$19,396, n=8). The auction record is $75,600 for LIFE IS A KILLER, BLACK AND BLUE (2022, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | We Gave a Party for the Gods, 2013 | Acrylic paint | $42,840 | Christie's | Nov 2024 |
| 2 | Prefer crying in a limo to laughing on a bus, 2014 | Acrylic paint | $27,421 | Christie's | Jun 2021 |
| 3 | THE WORLD JUST MAKES ME LAUGH, 2018 | Acrylic paint | $23,234 | Phillips | Oct 2024 |
| 4 | LIFE IS A KILLER, 2012 | Screenprint on canvas | $20,882 | Phillips | Jun 2025 |
| 5 | Don't Wait for Anything, 2011 | Painting | $18,900 | Rago Arts | Dec 2024 |
| 6 | Big Ego, 2015 | Screenprint on canvas | $13,860 | Phillips | Feb 2026 |
| 7 | Eating the Sky, 2009 | Painting | $10,625 | Rago Arts | Sep 2022 |
| 8 | Eating the Sky, 2009 | Oil on canvas | $10,625 | Wright | Sep 2022 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LIFE IS A KILLER, BLACK AND BLUE, 1988 | Silkscreen on vinyl | $75,600 | Sotheby's | Nov 2022 |
| 2 | I AM WAITING IN LINE WITH MY GROCERIES AND I WANT TO GET AWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT, 1989 | Silkscreen on vinyl | $37,500 | Christie's | May 2017 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 8 | $19,891 |
| Prints | 8 | $1,225 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $32,460 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $7,095 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 8 | $4,111 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 25 results from 10 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


John Giorno is an American artist with 37 auction lots recorded since 2017, median price $4,541. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by John Giorno sold in 2026 for $4,541, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a John Giorno work worth?

Across 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Giorno work is $4,541.

The median John Giorno print sells for $1,250 across 12 lots.

The median John Giorno work on paper sells for $4,541 across 5 lots.

The median John Giorno painting sells for $23,234 across 5 lots.

Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 13 | $1,250† | $75,600 | 92.3% | 2026-09-28 |
| Paintings | 6 | $23,234 | $42,840 | 83.3% | 2024-12-01 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $4,541 | $7,095 | 83.3% | 2026-10-22 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

John Giorno's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (13 lots) median $1,250 with 92.3% sell-through. Paintings (6 lots) median $23,234, record $42,840. A typical John Giorno painting sells for around 19× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $1,054–$1,458† | $1,158† | $13,860 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $75,600 |
| Paintings | 2024 | $42,840 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $27,421 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $20,882 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $7,095 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $6,258 |

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 Giorno worth?

Across 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Giorno work is $4,541. The median John Giorno print sells for $1,250 across 12 lots. The median John Giorno work on paper sells for $4,541 across 5 lots. The median John Giorno painting sells for $23,234 across 5 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a John Giorno print?

Based on 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Giorno print is $1,250. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is John Giorno's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Giorno print is $75,600.

### What is John Giorno's auction record?

John Giorno's auction record is $75,600, set in 2022.

---

Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “John Giorno auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-giorno (updated 2026-11-03).

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.