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

# Matthew Barney (b. 1967)

## What is Matthew Barney’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 166 auction results for Matthew Barney at 24 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $10,795 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,930–$25,400, n=29). The auction record is $571,000 for Cremaster 2 (2007, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cremaster 2 | Video | $571,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| 2 | Cremaster Suite | Chromogenic prints in self-lubricating plastic frames in five parts | $457,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 3 | CREMASTER 1: The Goodyear Waltz, 1995 | 8 gelatin silver prints and 1 c-print, in artist's frames | $262,089 | Phillips | Oct 2019 |
| 4 | Cremaster 5: The Queen's Menagerie | Colour coupler print in cast plastic frame | $209,221 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| 5 | Cremaster 2- Genealogy, 1999 | Three Cibachrome prints in self-lubricating acrylic frames | $186,700 | Christie's | Nov 2003 |
| 6 | Cremaster 4: The Loughton Candidate | Colour coupler print in cast plastic frame | $184,727 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cremaster 4, 1994-95 | Prosthetic plastic, bridal satin banner, Manx tartan, silkscreen laser disk in onionskin sleeve and self-lubricating plastic vitrine with plexiglass case | $387,500 | Christie's | May 1999 |
| 2 | Cremaster 5: her Giant, 1997 | Color coupler print in acrylic frame | $348,000 | Christie's | May 2007 |
| 3 | Cremaster 4: The Isle of Man, 1994 | Chrome | $229,500 | Christie's | Nov 2002 |
| 4 | Cremaster 4: The Isle of Man, 1994 | Five Cibachrome prints, self-lubricating and prosthetic plastic frames, Manx tartan | $182,000 | Christie's | May 2000 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 77 | $20,160 |
| Photographs | 41 | $18,813 |
| Works on paper | 11 | $8,890 |
| Prints | 19 | $1,008 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 28 | $28,733 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 68 | $13,915 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 43 | $4,750 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 166 results from 24 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Matthew Barney is an American artist with 215 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $11,698. 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 Matthew Barney sold in 2026 for $25,800, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Matthew Barney work worth?

Across 166 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Matthew Barney work is $11,698.

The median Matthew Barney photograph sells for $15,240 across 72 lots.

The median Matthew Barney print sells for $3,048 across 41 lots.

The median Matthew Barney work on paper sells for $11,060 across 13 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Matthew Barney photographs typically sell for $5,040–$25,400 (the middle half of 33 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Matthew Barney prints typically sell for $941–$50,625 (the middle half of 24 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 | 48 | $3,048† | $348,000 | 85.4% | 2026-05-29 |
| Paintings | 7 | $16,250 | $101,600 | — | 2025-11-20 |
| Works on Paper | 13 | $11,060 | $108,000 | — | 2026-03-04 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 6 | $2,164‡ | $11,520 | — | 2026-09-23 |
| Photography | 95 | $15,240 | $262,089 | 75.8% | 2026-06-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 23 | $156,000 | $571,000 | — | 2025-11-20 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Matthew Barney's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (48 lots) median $3,048 with 85.4% sell-through. Paintings (7 lots) median $16,250, record $101,600. A typical Matthew Barney painting sells for around 5.3× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 23 lots) the median is $156,000.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $655–$3,267 | $1,762 | $182,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 24 | $941–$50,625† | $16,162† | $348,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $11,562–$20,080 | $16,250 | $101,600 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $6,916–$16,351 | $9,545 | $78,000 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $3,941–$24,448 | $14,398 | $229,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 33 | $5,040–$25,400 | $8,398 | $262,089 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 21 | $11,094–$50,000 | $27,940 | $162,500 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $348,000 |
| Photography | 2019 | $262,089 |
| Photography | 2002 | $229,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2000 | $182,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $108,000 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $101,600 |
| Works on Paper | 2005 | $78,000 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $20,160 |

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 Matthew Barney worth?

Across 166 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Matthew Barney work is $11,698. The median Matthew Barney photograph sells for $15,240 across 72 lots. The median Matthew Barney print sells for $3,048 across 41 lots. The median Matthew Barney work on paper sells for $11,060 across 13 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Matthew Barney photographs typically sell for $5,040–$25,400 (the middle half of 33 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Matthew Barney prints typically sell for $941–$50,625 (the middle half of 24 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 Matthew Barney photograph?

Based on 72 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Matthew Barney photograph is $15,240.

### What is Matthew Barney's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Matthew Barney photograph is $262,089.

### What is the average price of a Matthew Barney print?

Based on 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Matthew Barney print is $3,048. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Matthew Barney's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Matthew Barney print is $348,000.

### What is the average price of a Matthew Barney work on paper?

Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Matthew Barney work on paper is $11,060.

### What is Matthew Barney's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Matthew Barney work on paper is $108,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Matthew Barney photograph?

Based on 33 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Matthew Barney photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,398, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is the average price of a medium Matthew Barney print?

Based on 24 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Matthew Barney print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $16,162, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Matthew Barney's auction record?

Matthew Barney's auction record is $571,000, set in 2007.

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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, “Matthew Barney auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/matthew-barney (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.