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

# John Steuart Curry (1897–1946)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 206 auction results for John Steuart Curry at 16 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,339 including buyer’s premium (middle half $556–$2,126, n=12). The auction record is $175,500 for Preliminary Study for a Mural: Oklahoma Land Rush (2003, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preliminary Study for a Mural: Oklahoma Land Rush, 1897 | Oil paint | $175,500 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 2 | The Homestead, 1897 | Oil paint | $77,675 | Christie's | Dec 2003 |
| 3 | Belgian Stallions, 1897 | Oil paint | $71,700 | Christie's | Dec 2004 |
| 4 | Medicine Man, 1897 | Charcoal | $57,360 | Christie's | Dec 2004 |
| 5 | Medicine Lodge, Kansas, 1930 | Oil paint | $32,500 | Christie's | Mar 2010 |
| 6 | On the Porch, 1897 | Oil paint | $22,500 | Christie's | Sep 2010 |
| 7 | Plowing Before a Storm, circa 1935 | Oil on canvas | $21,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2018 |
| 8 | Heart Ranch, Barber County, Kansas, 1929 | Oil on canvas | $11,875 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jan 2022 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Tornado, 1932 | Lithograph | $14,080 | Bonhams | Jun 2023 |
| 2 | John Brown, 1939 | Lithograph | $11,875 | Swann Auction Galleries | Nov 2015 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 11 | $22,500 |
| Works on paper | 12 | $1,355 |
| Prints | 165 | $1,200 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 17 | $3,125 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $2,772 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 167 | $1,265 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 206 results from 16 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


John Steuart Curry is an American artist with 240 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $1,380. 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 Steuart Curry sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $3,000 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 John Steuart Curry work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

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

## What is a John Steuart Curry work worth?

Across 199 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Steuart Curry work is $1,380.

The median John Steuart Curry print sells for $1,198 across 170 lots.

The median John Steuart Curry work on paper sells for $1,300 across 15 lots.

The median John Steuart Curry painting sells for $22,500 across 11 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) John Steuart Curry prints typically sell for $937–$3,382 (the middle half of 164 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 | 186 | $1,198†‡ | $14,080 | 91.4% | 2026-03-17 |
| Paintings | 12 | $22,500 | $175,500 | 91.7% | 2022-01-27 |
| Works on Paper | 16 | $1,300† | $7,080 | 93.8% | 2026-09-09 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 11 | $22,500 | $175,500 | — | 2023-06-23 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

John Steuart Curry's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (186 lots) median $1,198 with 91.4% sell-through. Paintings (12 lots) median $22,500, record $175,500. A typical John Steuart Curry painting sells for around 19× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 11 lots) the median is $22,500.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 164 | $937–$3,382†‡ | $1,200†‡ | $14,080 |

† 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) | 8 | $9,688–$38,715 | $21,875 | $71,700 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $1,025–$2,040† | $1,410† | $7,080 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $996–$2,112 | $1,220 | $6,250 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2003 | $175,500 |
| Paintings | 2003 | $77,675 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $14,080 |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $11,875 |
| Works on Paper | 2004 | $7,080 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $6,250 |

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 Steuart Curry worth?

Across 199 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Steuart Curry work is $1,380. The median John Steuart Curry print sells for $1,198 across 170 lots. The median John Steuart Curry work on paper sells for $1,300 across 15 lots. The median John Steuart Curry painting sells for $22,500 across 11 lots. Small (under 50 cm) John Steuart Curry prints typically sell for $937–$3,382 (the middle half of 164 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 Steuart Curry print?

Based on 170 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Steuart Curry print is $1,198. 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 Steuart Curry's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Steuart Curry print is $14,080.

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

Based on 15 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Steuart Curry work on paper is $1,300. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is John Steuart Curry's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Steuart Curry work on paper is $7,080.

### What is the average price of a John Steuart Curry painting?

Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Steuart Curry painting is $22,500.

### What is John Steuart Curry's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Steuart Curry painting is $175,500.

### What is the average price of a small John Steuart Curry print?

Based on 164 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Steuart Curry print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,200, 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 Steuart Curry's auction record?

John Steuart Curry's auction record is $175,500, set in 2003.

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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 Steuart Curry auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-steuart-curry (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.