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

# Mark Tobey (1890–1976)

## What is Mark Tobey’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 992 auction results for Mark Tobey at 75 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,039 including buyer’s premium (middle half $491–$9,051, n=72). The auction record is $1,644,020 for Autumnal fire (2018, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Autumnal fire | Tempera on paper laid down on board | $1,644,020 | Sotheby's | Jun 2018 |
| 2 | White and Rose, 1965 | Gouache | $741,181 | Christie's | Jun 2011 |
| 3 | Burst of Spring, 1964 | Graphite | $567,000 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 4 | New Crescent, 1953 | Tempera | $544,812 | Christie's | Mar 2018 |
| 5 | Between Black and White, 1970 | Oil paint | $531,000 | Phillips | Nov 2018 |
| 6 | Tumult | Tempera on paper laid down on board | $432,473 | Sotheby's | Dec 2018 |
| 7 | Celestial Space, 1946 | Tempera | $378,000 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 8 | Persian Bridge, 1969 | Tempera on paper | $351,810 | Sotheby's | Jun 2022 |
| 9 | Cosmic Tensions III, 1959 | Tempera | $350,500 | Christie's | Nov 2012 |
| 10 | Aquarium, 1964 | Tempera on paper | $307,245 | Koller Auktionen | Jun 2023 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 95 | $24,052 |
| Works on paper | 96 | $12,306 |
| Other | 61 | $8,458 |
| Prints | 219 | $1,000 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $74,750 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 157 | $4,560 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 269 | $3,600 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 992 results from 75 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Mark Tobey is an American artist with 1,425 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $1,769. 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 Mark Tobey sold in 2026 for $8,320, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**4 Mark Tobey works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Mark Tobey on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mark-tobey?ref=kg:mark-tobey) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Mark Tobey work worth?

Across 985 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mark Tobey work is $1,769.

The median Mark Tobey print sells for $508 across 501 lots.

The median Mark Tobey painting sells for $20,512 across 204 lots.

The median Mark Tobey work on paper sells for $5,500 across 157 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Mark Tobey prints typically sell for $257–$953 (the middle half of 295 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Mark Tobey prints typically sell for $377–$3,000 (the middle half of 165 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 | 638 | $508†‡ | $98,668‡ | 78.5% | 2026-10-07 |
| Paintings | 249 | $20,512†‡ | $1.6M | 81.9% | 2026-10-09 |
| Works on Paper | 219 | $5,500†‡ | $741,181 | 71.7% | 2025-12-16 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Photography | 4 | $1,680† | $3,395† | — | 2020-11-24 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 49 | $137,410†‡ | $1.6M | — | 2026-07-01 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Mark Tobey's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (638 lots) median $508 with 78.5% sell-through. Paintings (249 lots) median $20,512, record $1,644,020. A typical Mark Tobey painting sells for around 40× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 49 lots) the median is $137,410.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 295 | $257–$953†‡ | $415†‡ | $16,267 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 165 | $377–$3,000†‡ | $882†‡ | $98,668‡ |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 129 | $5,443–$25,721†‡ | $11,576†‡ | $350,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 66 | $30,556–$140,370†‡ | $65,603†‡ | $1.6M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $55,000–$187,500 | $94,500 | $432,473 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 120 | $2,709–$12,834†‡ | $4,430†‡ | $741,181 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 25 | $5,500–$23,991†‡ | $10,818†‡ | $64,020 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2018 | $1.6M |
| Paintings | 2021 | $795,410‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $741,181 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $175,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $98,668‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $66,541 |
| Photography | 2019 | $3,395† |
| Photography | 2019 | $2,896† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

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 Mark Tobey worth?

Across 985 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mark Tobey work is $1,769. The median Mark Tobey print sells for $508 across 501 lots. The median Mark Tobey painting sells for $20,512 across 204 lots. The median Mark Tobey work on paper sells for $5,500 across 157 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Mark Tobey prints typically sell for $257–$953 (the middle half of 295 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Mark Tobey prints typically sell for $377–$3,000 (the middle half of 165 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 Mark Tobey print?

Based on 501 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mark Tobey print is $508. 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 Mark Tobey's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mark Tobey print is $98,668. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a Mark Tobey painting?

Based on 204 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mark Tobey painting is $20,512. 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 Mark Tobey's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mark Tobey painting is $1,644,020.

### What is the average price of a Mark Tobey work on paper?

Based on 157 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mark Tobey work on paper is $5,500. 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 Mark Tobey's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mark Tobey work on paper is $741,181.

### What is the average price of a small Mark Tobey print?

Based on 295 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Mark Tobey print (small (under 50 cm)) is $415, 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 Mark Tobey print?

Based on 165 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Mark Tobey print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $882, 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 Mark Tobey's auction record?

Mark Tobey's auction record is $1,644,020, set in 2018.

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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, “Mark Tobey auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mark-tobey (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.