Kara Walker (b. 1969)
What is Kara Walker’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 321 auction results for Kara Walker at 20 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $7,303 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,048–$22,575, n=54). The auction record is $529,200 for Negress Notes (2022, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Negress Notes, 1995 | Watercolor, ink, ball-point pen and graphite on paper, in 27 parts | $529,200 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 2 | Four Idioms on Negro Art #4 Primitivism, 2015 | Watercolor | $503,001 | Christie's | Jun 2019 |
| 3 | Burn, 1998 | Installation | $400,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 4 | the Prescript of the Order of the invisible Empire - Its Peculiar Objects | Paper silhouettes, in 7 parts | $293,000 | Sotheby's | Sep 2013 |
| 5 | Sampler I Booty Call, 2013 | Cut paper | $264,000 | Phillips | Sep 2018 |
| 6 | Untitled (cut paper collage and gouache on paper), 1996 | Gouache | $252,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 7 | Picturesque (Panel I: Vagrant, Panel II: A Gentle Reminder, Panel III: Of Your, Panel IV: Complicity In, Panel V: Our Undoing), 2006 | Picturesque (Panel I: Vagrant, Panel II: A Gentle Reminder, Panel III: Of Your, Panel IV: Complicity In, Panel V: Our Undoing) | $242,500 | Christie's | Nov 2009 |
| 8 | Untitled (cut paper on canvas), 2004 | Cut paper silhouette | $225,000 | Phillips | Nov 2016 |
| 9 | From the Series: Negress Notes, Set 5, 1996 | Ink | $216,000 | Christie's | May 2006 |
| 10 | Master and Slave, Together Building a Model for the Future, 1998 | Gouache | $189,000 | Christie's | Mar 2023 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 10 | $82,061 |
| Works on paper | 102 | $18,555 |
| Sculpture | 10 | $10,765 |
| Other | 45 | $7,500 |
| Prints | 138 | $5,835 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 56 | $61,617 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 81 | $9,600 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 161 | $4,500 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 321 results from 20 houses · How we compute these figures
Kara Walker is an American artist with 359 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $8,553. 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 Kara Walker sold in 2026 for $93,792, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Kara Walker work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Kara Walker free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Kara Walker record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Kara Walker on OpeningBid →What is a Kara Walker work worth?
Across 321 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kara Walker work is $8,553.
The median Kara Walker print sells for $5,805 across 168 lots.
The median Kara Walker work on paper sells for $20,160 across 81 lots.
The median Kara Walker sculpture sells for $12,500 across 11 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Kara Walker prints typically sell for $2,772–$5,453 (the middle half of 86 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Kara Walker prints typically sell for $6,906–$12,675 (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 | 184 | $5,805†‡ | $151,200 | 91.3% | 2026-10-01 |
| Paintings | 7 | $174,560 | $503,001 | 85.7% | 2026-03-07 |
| Works on Paper | 86 | $20,160 | $529,200 | 94.2% | 2026-10-22 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 11 | $12,500† | $171,977 | — | 2025-10-21 |
| Photography | 8 | $9,540 | $10,200 | 75% | 2023-04-18 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 24 | $172,314 | $529,200 | — | 2026-05-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Kara Walker's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (184 lots) median $5,805 with 91.3% sell-through. Paintings (7 lots) median $174,560, record $503,001. A typical Kara Walker painting sells for around 30× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 24 lots) the median is $172,314.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 86 | $2,772–$5,453† | $3,500† | $25,600 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 62 | $6,906–$12,675‡ | $8,820‡ | $125,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $14,212–$50,210 | $31,500 | $151,200 |
† 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) | 40 | $3,042–$20,552 | $8,438 | $529,200 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $9,600–$27,940 | $15,120 | $56,250 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 24 | $41,875–$119,194 | $77,625 | $264,000 |
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $6,574–$12,550† | $8,372† | $82,550 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $529,200 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $503,001 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $264,000 |
| Paintings | 2009 | $242,500 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $171,977 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $151,200 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $125,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $101,600 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Kara Walker worth?
Across 321 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kara Walker work is $8,553. The median Kara Walker print sells for $5,805 across 168 lots. The median Kara Walker work on paper sells for $20,160 across 81 lots. The median Kara Walker sculpture sells for $12,500 across 11 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Kara Walker prints typically sell for $2,772–$5,453 (the middle half of 86 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Kara Walker prints typically sell for $6,906–$12,675 (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 Kara Walker print?
Based on 168 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kara Walker print is $5,805. 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 Kara Walker's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Kara Walker print is $151,200.
What is the average price of a Kara Walker work on paper?
Based on 81 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kara Walker work on paper is $20,160.
What is Kara Walker's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Kara Walker work on paper is $529,200.
What is the average price of a Kara Walker sculpture?
Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kara Walker sculpture is $12,500. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Kara Walker's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Kara Walker sculpture is $171,977.
What is the average price of a small Kara Walker print?
Based on 86 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Kara Walker print (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,500, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a medium Kara Walker print?
Based on 62 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Kara Walker print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,820, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Kara Walker's auction record?
Kara Walker's auction record is $529,200, set in 2022.
See the full Kara Walker record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Kara Walker on OpeningBid →