Louise Nevelson (1899–1988)
What is Louise Nevelson’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,024 auction results for Louise Nevelson at 58 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $11,655 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,134–$29,900, n=134). The auction record is $1,350,000 for Floating Cloud VII (2021, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floating Cloud VII, 1977 | Wood construction, painted white | $1,350,000 | Christie's | May 2021 |
| 2 | Dawn's Landscape XLIII, 1976 | Wood construction, painted white | $1,159,200 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 3 | Floating Cloud Zag II, 1977 | Sculpture | $756,500 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 4 | New Dawn Cathedral Column, 1959 | Wood construction, painted white, on Formica base | $693,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 5 | Golden Gate, 1960 | Sculpture | $685,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |
| 6 | Floating Cloud Zag I, 1977 | Wood painted white | $672,500 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 7 | Double Image, 1976 | Painted aluminum, in two parts | $636,500 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 8 | Dark Presence III, 1971 | Wood painted black | $634,600 | Christie's | May 2008 |
| 9 | Rain Forest Column XXI, 1962 | Column | $630,000 | Phillips | May 2022 |
| 10 | Mirror Shadow XXXVII | Wood, painted black | $623,400 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 360 | $31,250 |
| Other | 203 | $14,340 |
| Paintings | 14 | $10,625 |
| Works on paper | 131 | $3,500 |
| Prints | 221 | $1,375 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 109 | $134,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 371 | $6,240 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 406 | $4,064 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,024 results from 58 houses · How we compute these figures
Louise Nevelson is an American artist with 1,240 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $6,096. 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 Nevelson sold in 2026 for $86,951, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
5 Louise Nevelson works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Louise Nevelson free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Louise Nevelson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Louise Nevelson on OpeningBid →What is a Louise Nevelson work worth?
Across 1,021 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Louise Nevelson work is $6,096.
The median Louise Nevelson sculpture sells for $30,000 across 378 lots.
The median Louise Nevelson print sells for $1,570 across 333 lots.
The median Louise Nevelson work on paper sells for $3,750 across 135 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Louise Nevelson prints typically sell for $754–$2,464 (the middle half of 234 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Louise Nevelson sculptures typically sell for $5,820–$27,188 (the middle half of 182 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 | 381 | $1,570†‡ | $52,920 | 87.4% | 2026-09-12 |
| Paintings | 16 | $9,688 | $89,600 | 75% | 2026-03-25 |
| Works on Paper | 150 | $3,750†‡ | $252,000 | 90% | 2026-05-30 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 406 | $30,000†‡ | $1.4M | 93.1% | 2026-10-20 |
| Photography | 4 | $5,000 | $5,000 | 25% | 2021-06-10 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 109 | $205,000† | $1.4M | — | 2026-09-23 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Louise Nevelson's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (381 lots) median $1,570 with 87.4% sell-through. Paintings (16 lots) median $9,688, record $89,600. A typical Louise Nevelson painting sells for around 6.2× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 109 lots) the median is $205,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 82 | $1,277–$4,744†‡ | $2,438†‡ | $52,920 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 234 | $754–$2,464†‡ | $1,302†‡ | $30,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $1,292–$4,242‡ | $2,800‡ | $8,190 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $2,969–$19,062 | $8,750 | $37,819 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 70 | $1,989–$3,750† | $2,750† | $24,225 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 62 | $3,235–$14,715†‡ | $4,865†‡ | $69,300 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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) | 182 | $5,820–$27,188†‡ | $11,340†‡ | $242,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 106 | $20,796–$76,955†‡ | $40,125†‡ | $514,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 83 | $93,125–$271,850†‡ | $150,000†‡ | $1.4M |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $1.4M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $1.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $252,000 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $89,600 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $69,300 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $58,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $52,920 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $30,000 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Louise Nevelson worth?
Across 1,021 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Louise Nevelson work is $6,096. The median Louise Nevelson sculpture sells for $30,000 across 378 lots. The median Louise Nevelson print sells for $1,570 across 333 lots. The median Louise Nevelson work on paper sells for $3,750 across 135 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Louise Nevelson prints typically sell for $754–$2,464 (the middle half of 234 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Louise Nevelson sculptures typically sell for $5,820–$27,188 (the middle half of 182 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 Nevelson sculpture?
Based on 378 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Louise Nevelson sculpture is $30,000. 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 Nevelson's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Louise Nevelson sculpture is $1,350,000.
What is the average price of a Louise Nevelson print?
Based on 333 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Louise Nevelson print is $1,570. 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 Nevelson's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Louise Nevelson print is $52,920.
What is the average price of a Louise Nevelson work on paper?
Based on 135 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Louise Nevelson work on paper is $3,750. 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 Nevelson's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Louise Nevelson work on paper is $252,000.
What is the average price of a medium Louise Nevelson print?
Based on 234 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Louise Nevelson print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,302, 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 Nevelson sculpture?
Based on 182 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Louise Nevelson sculpture (small (under 50 cm)) is $11,340, 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 Louise Nevelson's auction record?
Louise Nevelson's auction record is $1,350,000, set in 2021.
See the full Louise Nevelson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Louise Nevelson on OpeningBid →