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

# Mel Bochner (1940–2025)

## What is Mel Bochner’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 417 auction results for Mel Bochner at 34 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $20,160 including buyer’s premium (middle half $7,810–$36,562, n=59). The auction record is $187,500 for Blah, Blah, Blah (2020, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blah, Blah, Blah, 2010 | Oil paint | $187,500 | Phillips | Jul 2020 |
| 2 | Blah, Blah, Blah, 2008 | Oil on canvas | $126,000 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 3 | Nothing/Nothing, 2006 | Oil on velvet | $125,832 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| 4 | HA HA HA | — | $121,807 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Jun 2021 |
| 5 | Blah, Blah, Blah, 2009 | Oil on velvet | $114,300 | Sotheby's | Mar 2024 |
| 6 | Blah, Blah, Blah, 2015 | Oil paint | $113,400 | Christie's | Nov 2024 |
| 7 | BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, 2014 | Acrylic paint | $107,763 | Phillips | Sep 2025 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blah, Blah, Blah, 2012 | Monoprint with collage, engraving and embossment on joined hand-dyed Twinrocker handmade paper, diptych | $137,500 | Phillips | Nov 2016 |
| 2 | HA HA HA, 2019 | Monoprint in oil with engraving and embossment | $121,807 | Phillips | Jun 2021 |
| 3 | Amazing | Monoprint with collage, engraving, embossing and oil paint in colours, on handmade and hand-dyed Twinrocker paper, the full sheet | $110,962 | Phillips | Sep 2019 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 47 | $50,400 |
| Other | 31 | $17,500 |
| Prints | 222 | $12,700 |
| Photographs | 5 | $10,625 |
| Works on paper | 48 | $8,997 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 82 | $38,750 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 111 | $11,970 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 149 | $11,340 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 417 results from 34 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Mel Bochner is an American artist with 519 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $14,275. 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 Mel Bochner sold in 2026 for $28,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

- [Mel Bochner on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mel-bochner?ref=kg:mel-bochner) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Mel Bochner work worth?

Across 414 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mel Bochner work is $14,275.

The median Mel Bochner print sells for $13,059 across 264 lots.

The median Mel Bochner painting sells for $46,990 across 65 lots.

The median Mel Bochner work on paper sells for $9,367 across 42 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Mel Bochner prints typically sell for $2,209–$27,912 (the middle half of 134 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Mel Bochner prints typically sell for $2,040–$17,500 (the middle half of 83 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 | 308 | $13,059†‡ | $137,500 | 85.7% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 71 | $46,990† | $217,189† | 91.5% | 2025-12-02 |
| Works on Paper | 45 | $9,367 | $100,000 | 93.3% | 2026-04-29 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 3 | $2,782‡ | $26,199 | — | 2025-09-13 |
| Photography | 7 | $10,625 | $114,300 | — | 2024-03-04 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 21 | $107,763† | $217,189† | — | 2025-11-21 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Mel Bochner's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (308 lots) median $13,059 with 85.7% sell-through. Paintings (71 lots) median $46,990, record $217,189. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $217,189 (buyer's premium not included). A typical Mel Bochner painting sells for around 3.6× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 21 lots) the median is $107,763.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 83 | $2,040–$17,500†‡ | $12,700†‡ | $48,260 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 134 | $2,209–$27,912†‡ | $11,346†‡ | $80,772 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 42 | $9,684–$76,670†‡ | $32,768†‡ | $137,500 |

† 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) | 13 | $11,970–$30,960 | $16,714 | $52,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 21 | $25,400–$50,400 | $38,100 | $84,188 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 27 | $48,750–$102,979† | $75,600† | $217,189† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $3,250–$10,000 | $4,714 | $37,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $7,830–$27,182 | $9,932 | $100,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $7,770–$27,269 | $15,870 | $77,500 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2021 | $217,189† |
| Paintings | 2020 | $187,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $137,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $121,807 |
| Photography | 2024 | $114,300 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $100,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $88,978 |
| Photography | 2015 | $50,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Mel Bochner worth?

Across 414 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mel Bochner work is $14,275. The median Mel Bochner print sells for $13,059 across 264 lots. The median Mel Bochner painting sells for $46,990 across 65 lots. The median Mel Bochner work on paper sells for $9,367 across 42 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Mel Bochner prints typically sell for $2,209–$27,912 (the middle half of 134 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Mel Bochner prints typically sell for $2,040–$17,500 (the middle half of 83 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 Mel Bochner print?

Based on 264 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mel Bochner print is $13,059. 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 Mel Bochner's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mel Bochner print is $137,500.

### What is the average price of a Mel Bochner painting?

Based on 65 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mel Bochner painting is $46,990. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Mel Bochner's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mel Bochner painting is $217,189. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $217,189 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a Mel Bochner work on paper?

Based on 42 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mel Bochner work on paper is $9,367.

### What is Mel Bochner's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mel Bochner work on paper is $100,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Mel Bochner print?

Based on 134 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Mel Bochner print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $11,346, 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 Mel Bochner print?

Based on 83 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Mel Bochner print (small (under 50 cm)) is $12,700, 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 Mel Bochner's auction record?

Mel Bochner's auction record is $217,189, set in 2021. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $217,189 (buyer's premium not included).

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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, “Mel Bochner auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mel-bochner (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.