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

# John Pfahl (1939–2020)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 20 auction results for John Pfahl at 8 houses since 2010. Over the last 24 months the median price was $381 including buyer’s premium (middle half $350–$563, n=5). The auction record is $20,000 for Altered Landscapes: The Photographs of John Pfahl (2018, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Altered Landscapes: The Photographs of John Pfahl, 1939 | Altered Landscapes: The Photographs of John Pfahl | $20,000 | Christie's | Apr 2018 |
| 2 | Australian Pines, Fort DeSoto, Florida, 1977 | Ink | $1,920 | Bonhams | Oct 2023 |
| 3 | Wave, Lave, Lace, Pescadoero Beach, California, 1978 | Ink | $1,024 | Bonhams | Dec 2023 |
| 4 | Great Salt Lake (from 'Altered Landscapes'), 1977 | Ink | $896 | Bonhams | Oct 2023 |
| 5 | Haystack Cone, Freeport, Maine, 1976 | Ink | $768 | Bonhams | Oct 2023 |
| 6 | Vertical Highway (from 'Altered Landscapes'), 1976 | Ink | $768 | Bonhams | Dec 2023 |
| 7 | 31 Prince Street, Rochester, New York, 1939 | Chromogenic print, printed later | $589 | Bonhams | Feb 2026 |
| 8 | Australian Pines, Fort DeSoto, Florida, 1939 | Chromogenic print | $563 | Bonhams | Feb 2026 |
| 9 | "San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, San Clemente, California," one plate from the Power Places" series, 1981, 1981 | — | $381 | John Moran Auctioneers | Aug 2026 |
| 10 | River Wye Near Brockweir, England, 1993/1997 | Iris print | $350 | Cottone Auctions | May 2026 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 11 | $768 |
| Other | 5 | $250 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $678 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 20 results from 8 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


John Pfahl is an American artist with 40 auction lots recorded since 2010, median price $589. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by John Pfahl sold in 2026 for $589, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a John Pfahl work worth?

Across 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Pfahl work is $589.

The median John Pfahl photograph sells for $296 across 8 lots.

The median John Pfahl work on paper sells for $896 across 5 lots.

The median John Pfahl print sells for $350 across 3 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 | 3 | $350† | $650† | — | 2026-05-21 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $896 | $1,920 | 83.3% | 2023-12-12 |
| Photography | 9 | $296 | $20,000 | 88.9% | 2026-02-27 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

## Price by size

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $768–$1,024 | $896 | $1,920 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $292–$576 | $296 | $20,000 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2018 | $20,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $1,920 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $1,024 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $650† |
| Photography | 2026 | $589 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $350 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Pfahl worth?

Across 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Pfahl work is $589. The median John Pfahl photograph sells for $296 across 8 lots. The median John Pfahl work on paper sells for $896 across 5 lots. The median John Pfahl print sells for $350 across 3 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 John Pfahl's auction record?

John Pfahl's auction record is $20,000, set in 2018.

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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 Pfahl auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-pfahl (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.