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

# Mike Kelley (1954–2012)

## What is Mike Kelley’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 227 auction results for Mike Kelley at 19 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $16,435 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,925–$40,640, n=30). The auction record is $3,301,000 for Memory Ware Flat 1 (2016, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memory Ware Flat 1, 2000 | Panel | $3,301,000 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 2 | Memory Ware Flat #16, 2001 | Paper pulp, tile grout, acrylic, miscellaneous beads, buttons and jewelry on wood panel | $2,887,500 | Christie's | May 2017 |
| 3 | Memory Ware Flat #24, 2001 | Panel | $2,853,000 | Christie's | Nov 2015 |
| 4 | Memory Ware Flat #3, 2000 | Mixed media | $1,179,500 | Phillips | Nov 2021 |
| 5 | Memory Ware Flat #42, 2003 | Mixed media panel | $1,079,500 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 6 | Craft Morphology Flow Chart | Black and white photographs in artist's frames, in 60 parts | $842,500 | Sotheby's | May 2011 |
| 7 | Nazi War Cave #1, 1985 | Acrylic paint | $740,000 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Oct 2014 |
| 8 | Memory Ware Flat #2 | — | $713,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ahh...Youth, 1991 | Eight elements--Cibachrome print mounted to aluminum | $1,022,500 | Christie's | May 2011 |
| 2 | Ahh...Youth, 1991 | Photographs | $688,000 | Christie's | May 2006 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 31 | $80,371 |
| Other | 76 | $52,750 |
| Sculpture | 8 | $50,282 |
| Works on paper | 40 | $26,252 |
| Photographs | 29 | $18,971 |
| Prints | 19 | $3,750 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 72 | $91,877 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 89 | $22,800 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 34 | $8,879 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 227 results from 19 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Mike Kelley is an American artist with 298 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $27,720. 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 Mike Kelley sold in 2026 for $109,650, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Mike Kelley work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Mike Kelley on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mike-kelley?ref=kg:mike-kelley) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Mike Kelley work worth?

Across 226 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mike Kelley work is $27,720.

The median Mike Kelley work on paper sells for $26,252 across 57 lots.

The median Mike Kelley photograph sells for $10,000 across 39 lots.

The median Mike Kelley painting sells for $72,425 across 40 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Mike Kelley work on papers typically sell for $11,731–$34,405 (the middle half of 36 sold lots).

Large (over 120 cm) Mike Kelley paintings typically sell for $68,500–$356,658 (the middle half of 21 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 | 45 | $3,187†‡ | $75,600 | 66.7% | 2025-11-24 |
| Paintings | 49 | $72,425 | $3.3M | 81.6% | 2025-12-16 |
| Works on Paper | 69 | $26,252†‡ | $516,500 | 82.6% | 2026-02-24 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 16 | $64,724‡ | $1M | — | 2026-09-10 |
| Photography | 56 | $10,000†‡ | $842,500 | 69.6% | 2026-06-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 51 | $277,000 | $3.3M | — | 2026-05-21 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Mike Kelley's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (45 lots) median $3,187 with 66.7% sell-through. Paintings (49 lots) median $72,425, record $3,301,000. A typical Mike Kelley painting sells for around 23× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 51 lots) the median is $277,000.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $800–$1,514‡ | $1,199‡ | $3,570 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 12 | $721–$3,484† | $1,782† | $75,600 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $3,634–$7,260‡ | $3,752‡ | $11,875 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 15 | $36,476–$69,300 | $59,315 | $588,500 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 21 | $68,500–$356,658 | $200,000 | $3.3M |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 36 | $11,731–$34,405 | $19,640 | $100,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 15 | $62,804–$143,250 | $88,900 | $516,500 |

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $3,328–$41,248 | $4,375 | $1M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $105,950–$245,800‡ | $114,836‡ | $374,400 |

‡ 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) | 17 | $1,290–$60,000†‡ | $6,985†‡ | $842,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $2,761–$31,250†‡ | $10,000†‡ | $688,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $11,875–$301,000 | $13,860 | $374,400 |

† 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 | 2016 | $3.3M |
| Paintings | 2017 | $2.9M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2011 | $1M |
| Photography | 2011 | $842,500 |
| Photography | 2006 | $688,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $516,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $410,500 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2006 | $374,400 |

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 Mike Kelley worth?

Across 226 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mike Kelley work is $27,720. The median Mike Kelley work on paper sells for $26,252 across 57 lots. The median Mike Kelley photograph sells for $10,000 across 39 lots. The median Mike Kelley painting sells for $72,425 across 40 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Mike Kelley work on papers typically sell for $11,731–$34,405 (the middle half of 36 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Mike Kelley paintings typically sell for $68,500–$356,658 (the middle half of 21 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 Mike Kelley work on paper?

Based on 57 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mike Kelley work on paper is $26,252. 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 Mike Kelley's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mike Kelley work on paper is $516,500.

### What is the average price of a Mike Kelley photograph?

Based on 39 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mike Kelley photograph is $10,000. 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 Mike Kelley's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mike Kelley photograph is $842,500.

### What is the average price of a Mike Kelley painting?

Based on 40 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mike Kelley painting is $72,425.

### What is Mike Kelley's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mike Kelley painting is $3,301,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Mike Kelley work on paper?

Based on 36 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Mike Kelley work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $19,640, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is the average price of a large Mike Kelley painting?

Based on 21 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Mike Kelley painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $200,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Mike Kelley's auction record?

Mike Kelley's auction record is $3,301,000, set in 2016.

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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, “Mike Kelley auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mike-kelley (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.