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

# Marlene Dumas (b. 1953)

## What is Marlene Dumas’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 400 auction results for Marlene Dumas at 32 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $10,611 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,435–$78,270, n=31). The auction record is $13,635,000 for Miss January (2025, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miss January, 1997 | Oil paint | $13,635,000 | Christie's | May 2025 |
| 2 | Love your Neighbor, 1994 | Oil paint | $5,879,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |
| 3 | Models, 1997 | Oil paint | $4,170,000 | Phillips | May 2017 |
| 4 | Snow White in the Wrong Story, 1988 | Oil paint | $3,781,000 | Phillips | Nov 2022 |
| 5 | After the Kiss, 1996 | Oil paint | $3,732,693 | Christie's | Oct 2023 |
| 6 | De gele vingers van de kunstenaar [The yellow fingers of the artist], 1985 | Diptych painting | $3,615,000 | Phillips | Nov 2017 |
| 7 | De acteur (Portrait of Romana Vrede), 2019 | Oil paint | $3,125,000 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| 8 | Night Nurse, 1999 | Oil paint | $2,517,000 | Phillips | May 2016 |
| 9 | The Pilgrim, 2006 | Oil paint | $2,324,469 | Phillips | Mar 2018 |
| 10 | The Believer, 2005 | Painting | $2,277,275 | Phillips | Oct 2021 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 61 | $728,759 |
| Works on paper | 126 | $20,226 |
| Other | 32 | $13,454 |
| Prints | 76 | $5,448 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 60 | $307,262 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 74 | $41,381 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 150 | $12,700 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 400 results from 32 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Marlene Dumas is a South African artist with 481 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $11,841. 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 Marlene Dumas sold in 2026 for $22,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Marlene Dumas work worth?

Across 389 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Marlene Dumas work is $11,841.

The median Marlene Dumas work on paper sells for $20,226 across 144 lots.

The median Marlene Dumas print sells for $2,682 across 135 lots.

The median Marlene Dumas painting sells for $635,000 across 66 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Marlene Dumas work on papers typically sell for $9,878–$25,000 (the middle half of 101 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Marlene Dumas prints typically sell for $910–$2,795 (the middle half of 69 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 | 161 | $2,682†‡ | $25,325 | 83.9% | 2026-09-28 |
| Paintings | 72 | $635,000† | $13.6M | 91.7% | 2026-06-26 |
| Works on Paper | 172 | $20,226†‡ | $423,601 | 83.7% | 2026-10-19 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $7,408 | $7,979 | — | 2019-01-24 |
| Photography | 5 | $3,528† | $4,633 | — | 2024-11-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 81 | $378,176 | $13.6M | — | 2026-06-26 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Marlene Dumas's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (161 lots) median $2,682 with 83.9% sell-through. Paintings (72 lots) median $635,000, record $13,635,000. A typical Marlene Dumas painting sells for around 237× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 81 lots) the median is $378,176.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 69 | $910–$2,795†‡ | $1,747†‡ | $9,964 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 37 | $2,336–$8,825†‡ | $6,027†‡ | $25,325 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 13 | $6,716–$10,351‡ | $8,510‡ | $14,310 |

† 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) | 19 | $48,293–$320,314† | $163,800† | $1.4M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $209,426–$645,670 | $295,501 | $2.3M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 28 | $847,553–$2.7M | $1.5M | $13.6M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 101 | $9,878–$25,000†‡ | $15,120†‡ | $144,107 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 26 | $28,029–$118,150 | $66,885 | $325,249 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 14 | $130,181–$285,508 | $176,400 | $423,601 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $1,845–$3,872† | $3,528† | $4,633 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2025 | $13.6M |
| Paintings | 2023 | $5.9M |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $423,601 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $325,249 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $25,325 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $19,407 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2015 | $7,979 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $6,837 |

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 Marlene Dumas worth?

Across 389 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Marlene Dumas work is $11,841. The median Marlene Dumas work on paper sells for $20,226 across 144 lots. The median Marlene Dumas print sells for $2,682 across 135 lots. The median Marlene Dumas painting sells for $635,000 across 66 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Marlene Dumas work on papers typically sell for $9,878–$25,000 (the middle half of 101 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Marlene Dumas prints typically sell for $910–$2,795 (the middle half of 69 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 Marlene Dumas work on paper?

Based on 144 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Marlene Dumas work on paper is $20,226. 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 Marlene Dumas's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Marlene Dumas work on paper is $423,601.

### What is the average price of a Marlene Dumas print?

Based on 135 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Marlene Dumas print is $2,682. 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 Marlene Dumas's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Marlene Dumas print is $25,325.

### What is the average price of a Marlene Dumas painting?

Based on 66 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Marlene Dumas painting is $635,000. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Marlene Dumas's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Marlene Dumas painting is $13,635,000.

### What is the average price of a small Marlene Dumas work on paper?

Based on 101 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Marlene Dumas work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $15,120, 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 Marlene Dumas print?

Based on 69 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Marlene Dumas print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,747, 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 Marlene Dumas's auction record?

Marlene Dumas's auction record is $13,635,000, set in 2025.

---

Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Marlene Dumas auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/marlene-dumas (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.