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

# Josef Albers (1888–1976)

Josef Albers is an American/German artist with 307 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $4,205. 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 sold in 2026 for $7,438, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Josef Albers work worth?

Across 275 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Josef Albers work is $4,205.

The median Josef Albers print sells for $2,848 across 174 lots.

The median Josef Albers painting sells for $387,052 across 62 lots.

The median Josef Albers work on paper sells for $21,405 across 6 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Josef Albers prints typically sell for $1,492–$5,493 (the middle half of 103 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Josef Albers prints typically sell for $1,590–$8,137 (the middle half of 59 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 | 181 | $2,848†‡ | $120,247 | 96.1% | 2026-08-30 |
| Paintings | 63 | $387,052‡ | $1.6M | — | 2026-05-26 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $21,405 | $116,100 | — | 2010-03-11 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $2,161 | $2,161 | — | 2011-09-20 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 52 | $462,907‡ | $1.6M | — | 2026-05-26 |

† 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 (181 lots) median $2,848 with 96.1% sell-through. Paintings (63 lots) median $387,052, record $1,552,870. A typical Josef Albers painting sells for around 136× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 52 lots) the median is $462,907.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 103 | $1,492–$5,493†‡ | $2,817†‡ | $56,620 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 59 | $1,590–$8,137†‡ | $4,117†‡ | $120,247 |

† 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) | 24 | $30,524–$447,678 | $239,766 | $770,393 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 34 | $295,456–$778,571‡ | $539,635‡ | $1.6M |

‡ 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 | 2006 | $1.6M |
| Paintings | 2007 | $1.3M |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $120,247 |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $116,100 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $88,856 |
| Works on Paper | 2009 | $87,434 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2011 | $2,161 |

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 Josef Albers worth?

Across 275 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Josef Albers work is $4,205. The median Josef Albers print sells for $2,848 across 174 lots. The median Josef Albers painting sells for $387,052 across 62 lots. The median Josef Albers work on paper sells for $21,405 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Josef Albers prints typically sell for $1,492–$5,493 (the middle half of 103 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Josef Albers prints typically sell for $1,590–$8,137 (the middle half of 59 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 174 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Josef Albers print is $2,848. 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 $120,247.

### What is the average price of a Josef Albers painting?

Based on 62 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Josef Albers painting is $387,052. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Josef Albers's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Josef Albers painting is $1,552,870.

### What is the average price of a small Josef Albers print?

Based on 103 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Josef Albers print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,817, 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 59 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Josef Albers print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,117, 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 $1,552,870, set in 2006.

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

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Josef Albers auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/josef-albers (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.