Lester (1919–2010)
Lester is an American artist with 89 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $1,875. 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 Lester is recorded as sold in 2026 for $2,700; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Lester works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Lester free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Lester record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Lester on OpeningBid →What is a Lester work worth?
Across 61 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Lester work is $1,875.
The median Lester painting sells for $2,750 across 25 lots.
The median Lester work on paper sells for $1,187 across 18 lots.
The median Lester print sells for $618 across 10 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 | 13 | $618† | $4,500 | 76.9% | 2022-09-28 |
| Paintings | 26 | $2,750‡ | $12,500 | 96.2% | 2026-06-18 |
| Works on Paper | 19 | $1,187‡ | $3,750 | 94.7% | 2026-05-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $10,000 | $12,500 | — | 2021-09-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Lester's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (13 lots) median $618 with 76.9% sell-through. Paintings (26 lots) median $2,750, record $12,500. A typical Lester painting sells for around 4.4× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $10,000.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $2,085–$4,425‡ | $3,218‡ | $8,125 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $750–$2,000 | $1,187 | $3,750 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $938–$2,550‡ | $1,495‡ | $3,750 |
‡ 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 | 2011 | $12,500 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $8,125 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $4,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $3,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $3,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $1,600† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Lester worth?
Across 61 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Lester work is $1,875. The median Lester painting sells for $2,750 across 25 lots. The median Lester work on paper sells for $1,187 across 18 lots. The median Lester print sells for $618 across 10 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 Lester painting?
Based on 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Lester painting is $2,750. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Lester's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Lester painting is $12,500.
What is the average price of a Lester work on paper?
Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Lester work on paper is $1,187. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Lester's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Lester work on paper is $3,750.
What is the average price of a Lester print?
Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Lester print is $618. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Lester's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Lester print is $4,500.
What is the average price of a medium Lester painting?
Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Lester painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,218, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a medium Lester work on paper?
Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Lester work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,495, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Lester's auction record?
Lester's auction record is $12,500, set in 2011.
See the full Lester record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Lester on OpeningBid →