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

# Leonard Nelson (1912–1993)

## What is Leonard Nelson’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 35 auction results for Leonard Nelson at 6 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $8,000 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,560–$9,920, n=6). The auction record is $30,000 for Alma's Garden (2017, Rago Arts). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alma's Garden, 1968 | Painting | $30,000 | Rago Arts | Nov 2017 |
| 2 | Spring | Oil on canvas | $26,400 | Sotheby's | Feb 2007 |
| 3 | Night, 1981 | Acrylic on canvas | $25,200 | Freeman's Hindman | May 2023 |
| 4 | Untitled (acrylic on canvas), 1984 | Acrylic paint | $16,250 | Rago Arts | Nov 2018 |
| 5 | Someday Never Comes, 1980 | Oil and acrylic on canvas | $14,080 | Freeman's Hindman | Nov 2025 |
| 6 | Les Competiteurs | Oil on canvas, unframed | $12,000 | Sotheby's | Feb 2007 |
| 7 | Woman and Birds, 1952 | Painting | $11,250 | Rago Arts | Nov 2019 |
| 8 | Hieroglyphic Figures | Oil on canvas | $10,800 | Sotheby's | Feb 2007 |
| 9 | Untitled (acrylic on canvas), 1982 | Acrylic paint | $10,625 | Rago Arts | Nov 2018 |
| 10 | It's Very Quiet, 1978-1979 | Oil and acrylic on canvas | $10,240 | Freeman's Hindman | Mar 2026 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 27 | $7,040 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $10,433 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 13 | $6,300 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $2,000 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 35 results from 6 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Leonard Nelson is an American artist with 42 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $6,875. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by Leonard Nelson sold in 2026 for $7,040, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Leonard Nelson work worth?

Across 35 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Leonard Nelson work is $6,875.

The median Leonard Nelson painting sells for $6,875 across 19 lots.

The median Leonard Nelson sculpture sells for $3,897 across 2 lots.

The median Leonard Nelson print sells for $1,750 across 1 lots.

Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 1 | $1,750 | $1,750 | — | 2019-05-04 |
| Paintings | 23 | $6,875 | $30,000 | 82.6% | 2026-03-24 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $1,150 | $1,150 | — | 2002-05-14 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $3,897 | $7,200 | — | 2018-11-10 |

Leonard Nelson's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $1,750. Paintings (23 lots) median $6,875, record $30,000. A typical Leonard Nelson painting sells for around 3.9× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $1,812–$2,719 | $2,125 | $2,950 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $6,275–$8,438 | $6,875 | $11,250 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $10,336–$15,708 | $12,352 | $30,000 |

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2017 | $30,000 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $16,250 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2007 | $7,200 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $1,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2002 | $1,150 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $594 |

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 Leonard Nelson worth?

Across 35 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Leonard Nelson work is $6,875. The median Leonard Nelson painting sells for $6,875 across 19 lots. The median Leonard Nelson sculpture sells for $3,897 across 2 lots. The median Leonard Nelson print sells for $1,750 across 1 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a Leonard Nelson painting?

Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Leonard Nelson painting is $6,875.

### What is Leonard Nelson's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Leonard Nelson painting is $30,000.

### What is Leonard Nelson's auction record?

Leonard Nelson's auction record is $98,500, set in 2014. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $98,500 (buyer's premium not included).

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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, “Leonard Nelson auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/leonard-nelson (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.