Joseph Beuys (1921–1986)
Joseph Beuys is a German artist with 472 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $1,423. 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 Joseph Beuys sold in 2025 for $2,908, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Joseph Beuys works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Joseph Beuys free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Joseph Beuys record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Joseph Beuys on OpeningBid →What is a Joseph Beuys work worth?
Across 267 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joseph Beuys work is $1,423.
The median Joseph Beuys print sells for $892 across 151 lots.
The median Joseph Beuys work on paper sells for $5,568 across 33 lots.
The median Joseph Beuys photograph sells for $1,247 across 17 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Joseph Beuys prints typically sell for $392–$2,282 (the middle half of 66 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Joseph Beuys prints typically sell for $438–$2,683 (the middle half of 62 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 | 264 | $892†‡ | $44,386 | 57.2% | 2026-04-12 |
| Paintings | 3 | $68,297 | $142,849 | — | 2020-07-30 |
| Works on Paper | 48 | $5,568†‡ | $213,457 | 68.8% | 2022-10-25 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 10 | $2,039†‡ | $65,430 | 80% | 2025-10-21 |
| Photography | 26 | $1,247†‡ | $59,254 | 65.4% | 2026-04-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 14 | $72,757 | $367,306 | — | 2020-07-30 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Joseph Beuys's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (264 lots) median $892 with 57.2% sell-through. Paintings (3 lots) median $68,297, record $142,849. A typical Joseph Beuys painting sells for around 77× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 14 lots) the median is $72,757.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 66 | $392–$2,282†‡ | $961†‡ | $44,386 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 62 | $438–$2,683†‡ | $964†‡ | $30,625‡ |
† 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) | 24 | $1,407–$15,970‡ | $5,568‡ | $213,457 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $8,532–$34,231‡ | $21,813‡ | $77,216 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $319–$1,504†‡ | $1,176†‡ | $2,672‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $654–$28,686†‡ | $3,887†‡ | $59,254 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $213,457 |
| Paintings | 2015 | $142,849 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $77,216 |
| Paintings | 2020 | $68,297 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2015 | $65,430 |
| Photography | 2006 | $59,254 |
| Photography | 2007 | $46,494 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $44,386 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Joseph Beuys worth?
Across 267 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joseph Beuys work is $1,423. The median Joseph Beuys print sells for $892 across 151 lots. The median Joseph Beuys work on paper sells for $5,568 across 33 lots. The median Joseph Beuys photograph sells for $1,247 across 17 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Joseph Beuys prints typically sell for $392–$2,282 (the middle half of 66 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Joseph Beuys prints typically sell for $438–$2,683 (the middle half of 62 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 Joseph Beuys print?
Based on 151 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joseph Beuys print is $892. 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 Joseph Beuys's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Joseph Beuys print is $44,386.
What is the average price of a Joseph Beuys work on paper?
Based on 33 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joseph Beuys work on paper is $5,568. 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 Joseph Beuys's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Joseph Beuys work on paper is $213,457.
What is the average price of a Joseph Beuys photograph?
Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joseph Beuys photograph is $1,247. 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 Joseph Beuys's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Joseph Beuys photograph is $59,254.
What is the average price of a small Joseph Beuys print?
Based on 66 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Joseph Beuys print (small (under 50 cm)) is $961, 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 Joseph Beuys print?
Based on 62 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Joseph Beuys print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $964, 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 Joseph Beuys's auction record?
Joseph Beuys's auction record is $367,306, set in 2014.
See the full Joseph Beuys record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Joseph Beuys on OpeningBid →