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

# John Olsen (1928–2023)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 984 auction results for John Olsen at 11 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,615 including buyer’s premium (middle half $694–$3,762, n=226). The auction record is $346,650 for DARK VOID (2022, Deutscher and Hackett). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DARK VOID, 1976 | Oil on canvas | $346,650 | Deutscher and Hackett | Feb 2022 |
| 2 | SMALL STREAMS RUNNING INTO A BIG RIVER, 1990 | Oil on canvas | $320,652 | Deutscher and Hackett | Feb 2022 |
| 3 | Flooded river, Kimberley, 1983 | Oil on canvas | $311,985 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2025 |
| 4 | THE BICYCLE BOYS REJOICE, 1955 | Oil on canvas | $307,093 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2017 |
| 5 | SPANISH ENCOUNTER 2, 1960 | Oil on composition board (diptych) | $303,319 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2020 |
| 6 | WATER FLOWING INTO LAKE EYRE, 1992 | Oil on canvas | $291,925 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2015 |
| 7 | WATER FLOWING INTO LAKE EYRE, 1992 | Oil on canvas | $288,599 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2015 |
| 8 | Flooded river, Kimberley, 1983 | Oil on canvas | $287,065 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2025 |
| 9 | Flooded river, Kimberley, 1983 | Oil on canvas | $286,833 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2025 |
| 10 | WETLANDS, 2000 | Oil on canvas | $277,320 | Deutscher and Hackett | Apr 2021 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 96 | $57,534 |
| Works on paper | 115 | $11,831 |
| Sculpture | 22 | $8,892 |
| Other | 140 | $1,531 |
| Prints | 145 | $843 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 66 | $89,512 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 312 | $2,106 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 117 | $757 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 984 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


John Olsen is an Australian artist with 1,536 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $1,925. 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 Olsen sold in 2026 for $3,561, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

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

## What is a John Olsen work worth?

Across 946 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Olsen work is $1,925.

The median John Olsen print sells for $1,209 across 524 lots.

The median John Olsen work on paper sells for $8,424 across 184 lots.

The median John Olsen painting sells for $55,754 across 152 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) John Olsen prints typically sell for $899–$1,856 (the middle half of 364 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) John Olsen prints typically sell for $398–$893 (the middle half of 141 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 | 903 | $1,209†‡ | $51,812 | 58% | 2026-10-13 |
| Paintings | 183 | $55,754†‡ | $599,288† | 83.1% | 2026-08-27 |
| Works on Paper | 252 | $8,424†‡ | $152,383 | 73% | 2026-10-20 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 30 | $7,458†‡ | $41,369 | 66.7% | 2026-08-27 |
| Photography | 2 | $30,550 | $30,550 | 50% | 2003-08-26 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 57 | $198,551†‡ | $599,288† | — | 2026-08-27 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

John Olsen's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (903 lots) median $1,209 with 58% sell-through. Paintings (183 lots) median $55,754, record $599,288. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $599,288 (buyer's premium not included). A typical John Olsen painting sells for around 46× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 57 lots) the median is $198,551.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 141 | $398–$893†‡ | $586†‡ | $2,535 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 364 | $899–$1,856†‡ | $1,382†‡ | $12,746 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 13 | $1,512–$3,261†‡ | $2,373†‡ | $47,932‡ |

† 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) | 6 | $10,450–$26,536†‡ | $19,095†‡ | $28,984 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 68 | $12,140–$47,442†‡ | $32,438†‡ | $307,093 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 75 | $64,386–$239,637†‡ | $138,660†‡ | $599,288† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 61 | $1,134–$3,562†‡ | $2,284†‡ | $19,651 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 105 | $6,225–$32,379†‡ | $15,249†‡ | $80,596 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 15 | $43,569–$90,340†‡ | $55,127†‡ | $152,383 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 18 | $6,028–$9,142†‡ | $6,779†‡ | $41,369 |

† 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 | 2019 | $599,288† |
| Paintings | 2020 | $457,197† |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $152,383 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $149,150‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $51,812 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $47,932‡ |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $41,369 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2026 | $41,302 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

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 Olsen worth?

Across 946 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Olsen work is $1,925. The median John Olsen print sells for $1,209 across 524 lots. The median John Olsen work on paper sells for $8,424 across 184 lots. The median John Olsen painting sells for $55,754 across 152 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) John Olsen prints typically sell for $899–$1,856 (the middle half of 364 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) John Olsen prints typically sell for $398–$893 (the middle half of 141 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 Olsen print?

Based on 524 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Olsen print is $1,209. 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 Olsen's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Olsen print is $51,812.

### What is the average price of a John Olsen work on paper?

Based on 184 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Olsen work on paper is $8,424. 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 Olsen's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Olsen work on paper is $152,383.

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

Based on 152 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Olsen painting is $55,754. 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 Olsen's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Olsen painting is $599,288. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $599,288 (buyer's premium not included).

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

Based on 364 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium John Olsen print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,382, 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 Olsen print?

Based on 141 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Olsen print (small (under 50 cm)) is $586, 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 Olsen's auction record?

John Olsen's auction record is $599,288, set in 2019. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $599,288 (buyer's premium not included).

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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 Olsen auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-olsen (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.