> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ken-johnson · updated 2026-11-02

# Ken Johnson (b. 1950)

## What is Ken Johnson’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 70 auction results for Ken Johnson at 7 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $911 including buyer’s premium (middle half $413–$2,119, n=8). The auction record is $18,449 for Oberon Track (2004, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oberon Track | Acrylic on canvas | $18,449 | Christie's | Aug 2004 |
| 2 | Diagonal, 1998, 1950 | Oil on canvas | $14,455 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |
| 3 | Dual Focus, 1950 | Oil paint | $11,950 | Christie's | Apr 2005 |
| 4 | Lucio's Antipasti, 1998, 1950 | Oil on canvas | $4,565 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |
| 5 | Flood Incision | Acrylic on canvas | $4,529 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Aug 2020 |
| 6 | Fabrica De Conservas, 2000 | Oil on canvas | $3,986 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Feb 2026 |
| 7 | The Salt Trace, 2008 | Acrylic on linen | $3,801 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Apr 2026 |
| 8 | Pearl Tide Continuum, 1950 | Pearl | $2,905 | Shapiro Auctioneers | Nov 2022 |
| 9 | Montesanto, 1998, 1950 | Oil on canvas | $2,282 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |
| 10 | Skillion Hook | Acrylic on canvas | $1,559 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jul 2026 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 20 | $1,347 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $3,986 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 9 | $362 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 70 results from 7 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Ken Johnson is an American artist with 98 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $913. 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 Ken Johnson sold in 2026 for $1,559, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Ken Johnson work worth?

Across 58 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ken Johnson work is $913.

The median Ken Johnson painting sells for $913 across 50 lots.

The median Ken Johnson work on paper sells for $352 across 5 lots.

The median Ken Johnson sculpture sells for $485 across 3 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Ken Johnson paintings typically sell for $268–$783 (the middle half of 27 sold lots).

Large (over 120 cm) Ken Johnson paintings typically sell for $1,425–$4,529 (the middle half of 21 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 | 3 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Paintings | 81 | $913†‡ | $18,449 | 61.7% | 2026-07-13 |
| Works on Paper | 13 | $352† | $1,072† | 38.5% | 2021-11-23 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 3 | $485† | $2,901† | — | 2022-09-29 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $13,202† | $18,449 | — | 2021-03-21 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 27 | $268–$783†‡ | $557†‡ | $5,085 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 21 | $1,425–$4,529† | $2,339† | $18,449 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $346–$830† | $352† | $1,072† |

† 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 | 2004 | $18,449 |
| Paintings | 2005 | $11,950 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2014 | $2,901† |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $1,072† |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $830† |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $485† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Ken Johnson worth?

Across 58 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ken Johnson work is $913. The median Ken Johnson painting sells for $913 across 50 lots. The median Ken Johnson work on paper sells for $352 across 5 lots. The median Ken Johnson sculpture sells for $485 across 3 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Ken Johnson paintings typically sell for $268–$783 (the middle half of 27 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Ken Johnson paintings typically sell for $1,425–$4,529 (the middle half of 21 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 Ken Johnson painting?

Based on 50 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ken Johnson painting is $913. 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 Ken Johnson's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ken Johnson painting is $18,449.

### What is the average price of a Ken Johnson work on paper?

Based on 5 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ken Johnson work on paper is $352. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Ken Johnson's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ken Johnson work on paper is $1,072. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $1,072 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a medium Ken Johnson painting?

Based on 27 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ken Johnson painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $557, 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 large Ken Johnson painting?

Based on 21 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Ken Johnson painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $2,339, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Ken Johnson's auction record?

Ken Johnson's auction record is $18,449, set in 2004.

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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, “Ken Johnson auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ken-johnson (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.