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

# Mario Merz (1925–2003)

## What is Mario Merz’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 160 auction results for Mario Merz at 31 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $30,657 including buyer’s premium (middle half $18,442–$70,785, n=14). The auction record is $1,572,500 for Untitled (Fibonacci) (2017, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled (Fibonacci), 1977 | Caiman Crocodylia (replica), neon tubing, wire, glass and transformer | $1,572,500 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 2 | Senza titolo (Une somma reale è una somma di gente) | Ten gelatin silver prints laid down on wood panel, neon tubing and wire | $932,452 | Sotheby's | Oct 2013 |
| 3 | Untitled (Oar), 1972 | Wooden oar and neon | $773,403 | Christie's | Oct 2007 |
| 4 | Iguana, 1971 | Neon | $639,982 | Christie's | Oct 2006 |
| 5 | Senza titolo (Una somma reale è una somma di gente), 1972 | Ten black and white photographs, neon and electrical components | $609,590 | Christie's | Feb 2007 |
| 6 | Teatro Cavallo, 1967 | Neon tubes and plastic tubes | $605,000 | Christie's | Nov 2015 |
| 7 | Untitled (soil, glass and neon numbers), 1971 | Glass | $327,368 | Christie's | Oct 2020 |
| 8 | Meteoriti in giardino (Meteorites in the Garden), 1976 | Charcoal, clay and snails on canvas | $279,869 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 9 | Albero Grande Solitario, 1995 | Stahl, Glas, Stein, Reisig | $233,738 | Van Ham Kunstauktionen | Jun 2025 |
| 10 | Una lunghissima domenica, 1988 | Iron support, wire mesh and neon | $187,500 | Phillips | May 2019 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 17 | $44,678 |
| Other | 45 | $28,922 |
| Works on paper | 34 | $12,146 |
| Prints | 14 | $1,147 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 31 | $75,855 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 50 | $15,302 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $3,767 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 160 results from 31 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Mario Merz is an Italian artist with 253 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $14,969. 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 Mario Merz sold in 2026 for $119,476, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**2 Mario Merz works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Mario Merz on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mario-merz?ref=kg:mario-merz) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Mario Merz work worth?

Across 159 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mario Merz work is $14,969.

The median Mario Merz work on paper sells for $12,389 across 50 lots.

The median Mario Merz print sells for $526 across 34 lots.

The median Mario Merz painting sells for $27,188 across 16 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Mario Merz work on papers typically sell for $7,215–$26,814 (the middle half of 28 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 | 44 | $526†‡ | $6,324 | 77.3% | 2026-06-12 |
| Paintings | 20 | $27,188† | $164,009 | 80% | 2024-11-23 |
| Works on Paper | 63 | $12,389†‡ | $279,869 | 79.4% | 2026-05-12 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 8 | $187,500 | $773,403 | — | 2019-05-15 |
| Photography | 3 | $932,452 | $932,452 | 33.3% | 2013-10-17 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 20 | $181,650‡ | $1.6M | — | 2026-05-12 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Mario Merz's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (44 lots) median $526 with 77.3% sell-through. Paintings (20 lots) median $27,188, record $164,009. A typical Mario Merz painting sells for around 52× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 20 lots) the median is $181,650.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $302–$526†‡ | $444†‡ | $1,779 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 19 | $416–$1,542†‡ | $1,016†‡ | $6,324 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $25,498–$83,738† | $47,993† | $164,009 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $2,092–$4,608† | $3,072† | $10,053 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 28 | $7,215–$26,814†‡ | $16,114†‡ | $75,500 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $11,792–$24,193† | $18,207† | $279,869 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $121,454–$500,625 | $179,990 | $773,403 |

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2013 | $932,452 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2007 | $773,403 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2007 | $609,590 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $279,869 |
| Paintings | 2005 | $164,009 |
| Paintings | 2006 | $156,275 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $119,476 |
| Prints & Editions | 1990 | $6,324 |

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 Mario Merz worth?

Across 159 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mario Merz work is $14,969. The median Mario Merz work on paper sells for $12,389 across 50 lots. The median Mario Merz print sells for $526 across 34 lots. The median Mario Merz painting sells for $27,188 across 16 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Mario Merz work on papers typically sell for $7,215–$26,814 (the middle half of 28 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 Mario Merz work on paper?

Based on 50 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mario Merz work on paper is $12,389. 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 Mario Merz's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mario Merz work on paper is $279,869.

### What is the average price of a Mario Merz print?

Based on 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mario Merz print is $526. 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 Mario Merz's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mario Merz print is $6,324.

### What is the average price of a Mario Merz painting?

Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mario Merz painting is $27,188. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Mario Merz's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mario Merz painting is $164,009.

### What is the average price of a medium Mario Merz work on paper?

Based on 28 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Mario Merz work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $16,114, 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 Mario Merz print?

Based on 19 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Mario Merz print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,016, 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 Mario Merz's auction record?

Mario Merz's auction record is $1,572,500, set in 2017.

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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, “Mario Merz auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mario-merz (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.