Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971)
What is Margaret Bourke-White’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 569 auction results for Margaret Bourke-White at 37 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,886 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,018–$3,980, n=27). The auction record is $400,000 for Flood Refugees, Louisville, Kentucky (2019, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flood Refugees, Louisville, Kentucky, 1938 | Cartes-de-visite | $400,000 | Phillips | Apr 2019 |
| 2 | At the Time of the Louisville Flood, Kentucky, 1937, 1937 | Gelatin silver print | $161,000 | Bonhams | Apr 2014 |
| 3 | Gargoyle, Chrysler Building, New York City, circa 1930 | Oversized gelatin silver print | $152,400 | Phillips | Oct 2023 |
| 4 | Fort Peck Dam, Montana, 1936, 1936 | Gelatin silver print | $149,000 | Bonhams | Apr 2014 |
| 5 | Fort Peck Dam, Montana, 1936, 1940 | Wool | $125,000 | Christie's | Oct 2018 |
| 6 | George Washington Bridge, Hudson River, N.Y.C. | Cartes-de-visite | $104,500 | Phillips | Apr 2013 |
| 7 | George Washington Bridge, Hudson River, New York, 1904 | Cartes-de-visite | $86,500 | Christie's | Oct 2011 |
| 8 | Sikorsky Airplane, 1934 | Gelatin silver print | $85,657 | Christie's | Oct 1999 |
| 9 | SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS, 1935 | Gelatin silver print, with black ink borders, credit, date, and annotations in crayon on the reverse, framed, a Ginny Williams Collection label on the reverse, 1935 (Callahan, pp. 50-51 | $81,250 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gargoyle, Chrysler Building, New York City, circa 1930 | Gelatin silver print with black inked borders | $127,000 | Phillips | Apr 2023 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 6 | $5,780 |
| Photographs | 383 | $3,840 |
| Other | 107 | $2,880 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 69 | $4,560 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 346 | $3,907 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 569 results from 37 houses · How we compute these figures
Margaret Bourke-White is an American artist with 775 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $3,575. 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 Margaret Bourke-White sold in 2026 for $5,610, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Margaret Bourke-White work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Margaret Bourke-White free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Margaret Bourke-White record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Margaret Bourke-White on OpeningBid →What is a Margaret Bourke-White work worth?
Across 568 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Margaret Bourke-White work is $3,575.
The median Margaret Bourke-White photograph sells for $3,737 across 519 lots.
The median Margaret Bourke-White print sells for $1,043 across 6 lots.
The median Margaret Bourke-White sculpture sells for $5,287 across 4 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Margaret Bourke-White photographs typically sell for $1,800–$9,113 (the middle half of 372 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Margaret Bourke-White photographs typically sell for $2,310–$7,310 (the middle half of 75 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 | 7 | $1,043 | $76,519 | 85.7% | 2026-05-21 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $4,750 | $6,250 | — | 2016-02-25 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 4 | $5,287 | $25,300 | — | 2011-06-26 |
| Photography | 625 | $3,737†‡ | $400,000 | 83% | 2026-07-14 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 29 | $65,000 | $400,000 | — | 2024-10-09 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $419–$1,948 | $1,043 | $76,519 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 372 | $1,800–$9,113†‡ | $4,000†‡ | $400,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 75 | $2,310–$7,310†‡ | $4,320†‡ | $21,420 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2019 | $400,000 |
| Photography | 2014 | $161,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $76,519 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1999 | $25,300 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2001 | $6,462 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $6,250 |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $4,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $2,125 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Margaret Bourke-White worth?
Across 568 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Margaret Bourke-White work is $3,575. The median Margaret Bourke-White photograph sells for $3,737 across 519 lots. The median Margaret Bourke-White print sells for $1,043 across 6 lots. The median Margaret Bourke-White sculpture sells for $5,287 across 4 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Margaret Bourke-White photographs typically sell for $1,800–$9,113 (the middle half of 372 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Margaret Bourke-White photographs typically sell for $2,310–$7,310 (the middle half of 75 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 Margaret Bourke-White photograph?
Based on 519 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Margaret Bourke-White photograph is $3,737. 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 Margaret Bourke-White's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Margaret Bourke-White photograph is $400,000.
What is the average price of a small Margaret Bourke-White photograph?
Based on 372 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Margaret Bourke-White photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,000, 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 medium Margaret Bourke-White photograph?
Based on 75 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Margaret Bourke-White photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,320, 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 Margaret Bourke-White's auction record?
Margaret Bourke-White's auction record is $400,000, set in 2019.
See the full Margaret Bourke-White record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Margaret Bourke-White on OpeningBid →