> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/leon-kelly · updated 2026-11-03

# Leon Kelly (1901–1982)

## What is Leon Kelly’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 10 | $2,345 |
| Works on paper | 16 | $1,875 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 8 | $3,710 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 21 | $1,750 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 44 results from 13 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Leon Kelly auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/leon-kelly (updated 2026-11-03).

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.