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

# Lee Friedlander (b. 1934)

## What is Lee Friedlander’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 497 auction results for Lee Friedlander at 32 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $4,058 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,651–$5,805, n=69). The auction record is $609,600 for The Little Screens (2023, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Little Screens, 1961 | Gelatin silver print | $180,000 | Wright | Dec 2025 |
| 2 | new york city (shadow on fur collar) | — | $68,500 | Sotheby's | Oct 2008 |
| 3 | 15 Photographs, 1934 | Gelatin silver prints | $67,000 | Christie's | Oct 2007 |
| 4 | Newark, 1962 | Cartes-de-visite | $57,150 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 5 | 'galax, virginia' | — | $56,200 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 6 | Galax, 1960 | Cartes-de-visite | $52,500 | Phillips | Apr 2013 |
| 7 | Galax, Va, 1962 | Elixir of Life: Photographs from The Olbricht Collection | $51,486 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Little Screens, 1961-70 | Cartes-de-visite | $609,600 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 2 | The Little Screens, 1961 | Cartes-de-visite | $228,600 | Rago Arts | Dec 2025 |
| 3 | Florida, 1963 | Elixir of Life: Photographs from The Olbricht Collection | $51,486 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 394 | $4,905 |
| Other | 49 | $4,200 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 364 | $5,060 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 18 | $4,005 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 497 results from 32 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Lee Friedlander is an American artist with 719 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $4,428. 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 Lee Friedlander sold in 2026 for $7,040, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Lee Friedlander work worth?

Across 494 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Lee Friedlander work is $4,428.

The median Lee Friedlander photograph sells for $4,445 across 451 lots.

The median Lee Friedlander print sells for $2,476 across 10 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Lee Friedlander photographs typically sell for $2,794–$8,802 (the middle half of 378 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 | 11 | $2,476† | $17,930 | 90.9% | 2026-10-15 |
| Photography | 577 | $4,445†‡ | $609,600 | 78.2% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 25 | $43,750 | $609,600 | — | 2025-12-11 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $1,894–$6,750 | $2,540 | $17,930 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 378 | $2,794–$8,802†‡ | $5,020†‡ | $609,600 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $2,286–$11,850 | $4,410 | $17,500 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2023 | $609,600 |
| Photography | 2025 | $228,600 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $17,930 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $8,750 |

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 Lee Friedlander worth?

Across 494 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Lee Friedlander work is $4,428. The median Lee Friedlander photograph sells for $4,445 across 451 lots. The median Lee Friedlander print sells for $2,476 across 10 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Lee Friedlander photographs typically sell for $2,794–$8,802 (the middle half of 378 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 Lee Friedlander photograph?

Based on 451 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Lee Friedlander photograph is $4,445. 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 Lee Friedlander's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Lee Friedlander photograph is $609,600.

### What is the average price of a Lee Friedlander print?

Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Lee Friedlander print is $2,476. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Lee Friedlander's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Lee Friedlander print is $17,930.

### What is the average price of a small Lee Friedlander photograph?

Based on 378 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Lee Friedlander photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,020, 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 Lee Friedlander photograph?

Based on 17 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Lee Friedlander photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,410, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Lee Friedlander's auction record?

Lee Friedlander's auction record is $609,600, set in 2023.

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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, “Lee Friedlander auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/lee-friedlander (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.