Leon Kelly (1901–1982)
What is Leon Kelly’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 44 auction results for Leon Kelly at 13 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,378 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,066–$2,343, n=6). The auction record is $35,000 for WINTER BIRD (2019, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WINTER BIRD, 1945 | Oil paint | $35,000 | Sotheby's | May 2019 |
| 2 | The White Compotier, 1921 | Wool | $20,000 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 3 | Garçon offrant un oursin, 1953 | Oil paint | $10,094 | Sotheby's | Oct 2023 |
| 4 | Portrait Of Hermione, The Gypsy, 1921 | Charcoal on paper | $7,560 | Sotheby's | Mar 2022 |
| 5 | Bird on an Asian Pinnacle, 1951 | Oil paint | $6,350 | Phillips | Nov 2023 |
| 6 | Souvenir of Tetuan, 1953 | Pencil on paper | $4,750 | Sotheby's | Nov 2019 |
| 7 | BIRD OF WINTER OR WINTER BIRD, 1945 | Pen and ink on paper | $4,375 | Sotheby's | Nov 2019 |
| 8 | Still Life, 1901 | Painting | $4,375 | Bonhams | May 2015 |
| 9 | The Oriental Cock, 1945 | Ink | $4,000 | Sotheby's | May 2019 |
| 10 | Little Girl with a Hunting Dog, 1954 | Pencil on Arches paper | $3,900 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2022 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 10 | $2,345 |
| Works on paper | 16 | $1,875 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 8 | $3,710 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 21 | $1,750 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 44 results from 13 houses · How we compute these figures
Leon Kelly is an American artist with 58 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $1,996. 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 Leon Kelly sold in 2025 for $3,520, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Leon Kelly record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Leon Kelly on OpeningBid →What is a Leon Kelly work worth?
Across 44 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Leon Kelly work is $1,996.
The median Leon Kelly painting sells for $2,650 across 18 lots.
The median Leon Kelly work on paper sells for $1,871 across 22 lots.
The median Leon Kelly print sells for $625 across 1 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 | 1 | $625 | $625 | — | 2018-05-05 |
| Paintings | 24 | $2,650† | $35,000 | 75% | 2026-09-08 |
| Works on Paper | 23 | $1,871†‡ | $20,000 | 95.7% | 2025-12-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $20,000 | $35,000 | — | 2023-10-23 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Leon Kelly's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $625. Paintings (24 lots) median $2,650, record $35,000. A typical Leon Kelly painting sells for around 4.2× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $20,000.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $1,005–$4,869† | $2,312† | $35,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $1,690–$7,970† | $2,299† | $8,889† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 16 | $1,063–$2,145†‡ | $1,686†‡ | $4,375 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $3,900–$7,560 | $4,750 | $20,000 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2019 | $35,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $20,000 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $10,094 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $7,560 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $625 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Leon Kelly worth?
Across 44 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Leon Kelly work is $1,996. The median Leon Kelly painting sells for $2,650 across 18 lots. The median Leon Kelly work on paper sells for $1,871 across 22 lots. The median Leon Kelly print sells for $625 across 1 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 Leon Kelly painting?
Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Leon Kelly painting is $2,650. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Leon Kelly's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Leon Kelly painting is $35,000.
What is the average price of a Leon Kelly work on paper?
Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Leon Kelly work on paper is $1,871. 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 Leon Kelly's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Leon Kelly work on paper is $20,000.
What is the average price of a small Leon Kelly work on paper?
Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Leon Kelly work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,686, 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 small Leon Kelly painting?
Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Leon Kelly painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,312, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Leon Kelly's auction record?
Leon Kelly's auction record is $35,000, set in 2019.
See the full Leon Kelly record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Leon Kelly on OpeningBid →