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

# Louise Lawler (b. 1947)

## What is Louise Lawler’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 240 auction results for Louise Lawler at 25 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $12,334 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,685–$20,209, n=30). The auction record is $542,500 for Monogram (2012, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Does Andy Warhol Make You Cry?, 1988 | Silver dye bleach print with text on Plexiglas wall label, in two parts | $340,200 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 2 | Marie, 2010 | Cibachrome print, face-mounted to acrylic and flush-mounted to aluminum | $279,400 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 3 | Collage Cartoon, 1990 | Cibachrome print, triptych | $146,164 | Phillips | Apr 2021 |
| 4 | Nude, 2002-2003 | Cibachrome print mounted on aluminum box | $122,500 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| 5 | Salon Hodler, 1993 | Photographed in 1992 and printed in 1993. This work is number three from an edition of five plus one artist's proof | $100,000 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 6 | Sentimental, 1999-2000 | Cibachrome print mounted on aluminum | $86,400 | Christie's | Nov 2005 |
| 7 | War is terror, 1947 | Tirage cibachrome monté sur aluminium | $81,235 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monogram, 1984-1987 | Color coupler print | $542,500 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| 2 | La Lecture, 1924, Femme au Livre, 1924, Positioned together, Tous les Deux, ensemble, New York, 1985 | Cibachrome mounted on Sintra | $175,000 | Christie's | May 2017 |
| 3 | La Lecture, 1924, Femme au Livre, 1924, Positioned together, Tous les Deux, ensemble, New York, 1985 | Cibachrome mounted on Sintra | $119,700 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 128 | $22,500 |
| Photographs | 76 | $12,909 |
| Works on paper | 5 | $4,445 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 34 | $26,250 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 109 | $22,792 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 62 | $4,307 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 240 results from 25 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Louise Lawler is an American artist with 298 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $18,110. 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 Louise Lawler sold in 2026 for $26,798, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Louise Lawler work worth?

Across 240 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Louise Lawler work is $18,110.

The median Louise Lawler photograph sells for $16,445 across 128 lots.

The median Louise Lawler print sells for $13,508 across 55 lots.

The median Louise Lawler sculpture sells for $27,500 across 37 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Louise Lawler photographs typically sell for $12,550–$36,480 (the middle half of 62 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Louise Lawler photographs typically sell for $1,000–$5,040 (the middle half of 42 sold 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 | 71 | $13,508‡ | $542,500 | 77.5% | 2026-04-16 |
| Paintings | 1 | $8,255 | $8,255 | — | 2022-08-18 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $32,500 | $32,500 | — | 2008-10-13 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 44 | $27,500 | $122,500 | 84.1% | 2026-02-12 |
| Photography | 147 | $16,445†‡ | $340,200 | 87.1% | 2026-10-17 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 12 | $121,100 | $542,500 | — | 2025-05-16 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Louise Lawler's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (71 lots) median $13,508 with 77.5% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $8,255, record $8,255. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 12 lots) the median is $121,100.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 17 | $1,659–$7,800 | $6,300 | $30,480 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $8,112–$39,250‡ | $25,800‡ | $542,500 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $18,790–$45,570 | $31,239 | $279,400 |

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

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $14,485–$46,000 | $40,890 | $52,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 25 | $20,627–$40,000 | $24,336 | $81,235 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $20,569–$86,400 | $42,000 | $122,500 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 42 | $1,000–$5,040† | $3,078† | $32,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 62 | $12,550–$36,480†‡ | $20,130†‡ | $340,200 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 19 | $18,975–$39,682 | $25,000 | $100,000 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $542,500 |
| Photography | 2022 | $340,200 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $279,400 |
| Photography | 2017 | $175,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2012 | $122,500 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2005 | $86,400 |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $32,500 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $8,255 |

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 Louise Lawler worth?

Across 240 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Louise Lawler work is $18,110. The median Louise Lawler photograph sells for $16,445 across 128 lots. The median Louise Lawler print sells for $13,508 across 55 lots. The median Louise Lawler sculpture sells for $27,500 across 37 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Louise Lawler photographs typically sell for $12,550–$36,480 (the middle half of 62 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Louise Lawler photographs typically sell for $1,000–$5,040 (the middle half of 42 sold 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 Louise Lawler photograph?

Based on 128 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Louise Lawler photograph is $16,445. 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 Louise Lawler's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Louise Lawler photograph is $340,200.

### What is the average price of a Louise Lawler print?

Based on 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Louise Lawler print is $13,508. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Louise Lawler's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Louise Lawler print is $542,500.

### What is the average price of a Louise Lawler sculpture?

Based on 37 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Louise Lawler sculpture is $27,500.

### What is Louise Lawler's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Louise Lawler sculpture is $122,500.

### What is the average price of a medium Louise Lawler photograph?

Based on 62 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Louise Lawler photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $20,130, 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 Louise Lawler photograph?

Based on 42 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Louise Lawler photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,078, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Louise Lawler's auction record?

Louise Lawler's auction record is $542,500, set in 2012.

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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, “Louise Lawler auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/louise-lawler (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.