Josef Albers (1888–1976)
What is Josef Albers’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,988 auction results for Josef Albers at 89 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $4,845 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,151–$14,108, n=191). The auction record is $2,954,000 for Homage to the Square (2023, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homage to the Square, 1971 | Oil paint | $2,954,000 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 2 | Homage to the Square: White Nimbus, 1964 | Oil paint | $2,210,500 | Christie's | Nov 2012 |
| 3 | Homage to the Square in Green Frames, 1963 | Oil on Masonite | $2,046,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2022 |
| 4 | Study for Homage to the Square: Red Tetrachord, 1962 | Oil paint | $1,998,466 | Christie's | Oct 2019 |
| 5 | Homage to the Square: Distant Alarm, 1966 | Oil paint | $1,986,500 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| 6 | Homage to the Square, 1973 | Oil paint | $1,927,500 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |
| 7 | Homage to the Square: Yellow Resonance, 1957 | Oil paint | $1,875,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |
| 8 | Homage to the Square: Between 2 Scarlets, 1962 | Oil paint | $1,541,492 | Christie's | Mar 2025 |
| 9 | Homage to the Square: Joy | — | $1,497,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| 10 | Homage to the Square: Midsummer, 1964 | Huile sur panneau d'isorel | $1,419,043 | Christie's | Dec 2016 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 322 | $369,084 |
| Photographs | 9 | $10,160 |
| Other | 134 | $4,686 |
| Works on paper | 54 | $4,684 |
| Prints | 1,071 | $3,750 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 21 | $74,000 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 545 | $8,750 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 936 | $4,681 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,988 results from 89 houses · How we compute these figures
Josef Albers is a German artist with 2,321 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $4,375. 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 Josef Albers is recorded as sold in 2026 for $109,471; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
8 Josef Albers works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Josef Albers free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Josef Albers record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Josef Albers on OpeningBid →What is a Josef Albers work worth?
Across 1,970 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Josef Albers work is $4,375.
The median Josef Albers print sells for $3,298 across 1,341 lots.
The median Josef Albers painting sells for $382,529 across 311 lots.
The median Josef Albers work on paper sells for $12,862 across 56 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Josef Albers prints typically sell for $1,785–$6,418 (the middle half of 895 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Josef Albers prints typically sell for $1,425–$6,927 (the middle half of 387 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 | 1,479 | $3,298†‡ | $242,948 | 90.7% | 2026-10-14 |
| Paintings | 324 | $382,529†‡ | $3M | 96% | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 58 | $12,862† | $1.2M | 96.6% | 2026-10-23 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 11 | $65,279 | $691,090 | 81.8% | 2025-10-21 |
| Photography | 9 | $10,080 | $22,500 | 88.9% | 2026-06-05 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 326 | $391,303†‡ | $3M | — | 2026-10-25 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Josef Albers's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1,479 lots) median $3,298 with 90.7% sell-through. Paintings (324 lots) median $382,529, record $2,954,000. A typical Josef Albers painting sells for around 116× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 326 lots) the median is $391,303.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 895 | $1,785–$6,418†‡ | $3,500†‡ | $164,824 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 387 | $1,425–$6,927†‡ | $3,125†‡ | $242,948 |
† 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) | 95 | $160,500–$427,325†‡ | $287,500†‡ | $1.3M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 197 | $227,487–$649,200‡ | $421,064‡ | $3M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $479,250–$1.6M | $755,088 | $2.2M |
† 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) | 30 | $9,135–$92,188† | $26,875† | $179,200 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 24 | $859–$67,157† | $4,688† | $1.2M |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $15,418–$79,017 | $19,835 | $230,500 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $4,994–$15,938 | $10,080 | $22,500 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2023 | $3M |
| Paintings | 2012 | $2.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $1.2M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $691,090 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $634,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $242,948 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2012 | $230,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $164,824 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Josef Albers worth?
Across 1,970 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Josef Albers work is $4,375. The median Josef Albers print sells for $3,298 across 1,341 lots. The median Josef Albers painting sells for $382,529 across 311 lots. The median Josef Albers work on paper sells for $12,862 across 56 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Josef Albers prints typically sell for $1,785–$6,418 (the middle half of 895 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Josef Albers prints typically sell for $1,425–$6,927 (the middle half of 387 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 Josef Albers print?
Based on 1,341 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Josef Albers print is $3,298. 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 Josef Albers's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Josef Albers print is $242,948.
What is the average price of a Josef Albers painting?
Based on 311 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Josef Albers painting is $382,529. 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 Josef Albers's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Josef Albers painting is $2,954,000.
What is the average price of a Josef Albers work on paper?
Based on 56 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Josef Albers work on paper is $12,862. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Josef Albers's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Josef Albers work on paper is $1,163,255.
What is the average price of a small Josef Albers print?
Based on 895 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Josef Albers print (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,500, 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 medium Josef Albers print?
Based on 387 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Josef Albers print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,125, 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 Josef Albers's auction record?
Josef Albers's auction record is $2,954,000, set in 2023.
See the full Josef Albers record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Josef Albers on OpeningBid →