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

# Lionel Abrams (1931–1997)

## What is Lionel Abrams’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 49 auction results for Lionel Abrams at 5 houses since 2014. Over the last 24 months the median price was $52 including buyer’s premium (middle half $35–$82, n=13). The auction record is $4,055 for Blue Abstract (2016, Strauss and Co). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Abstract, 1973 | Oil on canvas | $4,055 | Strauss and Co | Nov 2016 |
| 2 | Abstract Composition | Oil on canvas | $3,565 | Strauss and Co | May 2019 |
| 3 | Abstract, 1966 | Oil on canvas | $1,998 | Strauss and Co | Jun 2018 |
| 4 | Lionel Abrams (South Africa, 1928 - 2004), Doorway on the Beach | Oil on canvas | $684 | Russell Kaplan Auctioneers | Nov 2025 |
| 5 | EVENING VIEW, 93/94 | Acrylic on canvas | $257 | Sworders | Jun 2015 |
| 6 | Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe, 1980 | Pastel on brown paper | $131 | Strauss and Co | Feb 2023 |
| 7 | Lionel Abrams (South Africa, 1928 - 2004), Yellow Abstract, 1970 | — | $116 | Russell Kaplan Auctioneers | May 2024 |
| 8 | Lionel Abrams (South Africa, 1931 - 1997), Composition with Man and Dog | Oil on canvas | $101 | Russell Kaplan Auctioneers | Sep 2025 |
| 9 | Lionel Abrams (South Africa, 1928 - 2004) 'Still Life with Fruit and a Glass of Water' | — | $95 | Russell Kaplan Auctioneers | Mar 2021 |
| 10 | Lionel Abrams (South Africa, 1928 - 2004), My Husband Gave at the Office, 1975 | — | $85 | Russell Kaplan Auctioneers | May 2026 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 6 | $1,341 |
| Other | 14 | $54 |


Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 49 results from 5 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Lionel Abrams is a South African artist with 33 auction lots recorded since 2014, median price $219. 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 Lionel Abrams sold in 2025 for $684, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Lionel Abrams work worth?

Across 24 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Lionel Abrams work is $219.

The median Lionel Abrams painting sells for $1,998 across 13 lots.

The median Lionel Abrams work on paper sells for $131 across 3 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 | 3 | — | — | — | 2022-10-25 |
| Paintings | 14 | $1,998‡ | $4,055 | 92.9% | 2023-02-10 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $131 | $131 | — | 2023-02-13 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2016 | $4,055 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $4,015 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $131 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $115 |

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 Lionel Abrams worth?

Across 24 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Lionel Abrams work is $219. The median Lionel Abrams painting sells for $1,998 across 13 lots. The median Lionel Abrams work on paper sells for $131 across 3 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 Lionel Abrams painting?

Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Lionel Abrams painting is $1,998. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Lionel Abrams's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Lionel Abrams painting is $4,055.

### What is Lionel Abrams's auction record?

Lionel Abrams's auction record is $4,055, set in 2016.

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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, “Lionel Abrams auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/lionel-abrams (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.