Milton Avery (1885–1965)
What is Milton Avery’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 762 auction results for Milton Avery at 34 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $21,590 including buyer’s premium (middle half $4,016–$56,300, n=63). The auction record is $3,612,500 for Sea & Sand Dunes (2016, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sea & Sand Dunes, 1947 | Oil on canvas | $3,612,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2016 |
| 2 | Red Nude, 1954 | Oil paint | $3,012,500 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 3 | White Moon, 1957 | Oil paint | $2,895,000 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 4 | Woman with Rebozo, 1947 | Oil paint | $2,532,500 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 5 | The Reader and the Listener | Oil on canvas | $2,505,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| 6 | Sketching by the Sea, 1885 | Oil paint | $2,210,500 | Christie's | May 2009 |
| 7 | Hot Moon, 1958 | Oil paint | $2,208,000 | Phillips | Nov 2022 |
| 8 | Woman by the Sea, 1944 | Oil paint | $1,986,000 | Christie's | Apr 2023 |
| 9 | White Umbrellas, 1952 | Oil paint | $1,872,500 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 10 | Dark Inlet, 1963 | Oil paint | $1,842,318 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 238 | $102,700 |
| Works on paper | 135 | $10,625 |
| Other | 74 | $8,750 |
| Prints | 283 | $2,600 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 16 | $1,508,750 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 286 | $61,250 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 375 | $2,750 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 762 results from 34 houses · How we compute these figures
Milton Avery is an American artist with 919 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $6,188. 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 Milton Avery sold in 2026 for $102,400, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
8 Milton Avery works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Milton Avery free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Milton Avery record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Milton Avery on OpeningBid →What is a Milton Avery work worth?
Across 759 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Milton Avery work is $6,188.
The median Milton Avery print sells for $2,600 across 327 lots.
The median Milton Avery painting sells for $114,950 across 221 lots.
The median Milton Avery work on paper sells for $20,000 across 161 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Milton Avery prints typically sell for $1,500–$3,250 (the middle half of 246 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Milton Avery paintings typically sell for $63,625–$337,688 (the middle half of 148 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 | 364 | $2,600†‡ | $56,250 | 89.8% | 2026-10-09 |
| Paintings | 254 | $114,950†‡ | $3.6M | 87% | 2026-10-09 |
| Works on Paper | 187 | $20,000†‡ | $329,000 | 86.1% | 2026-10-22 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 143 | $289,800† | $3.6M | — | 2026-10-09 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Milton Avery's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (364 lots) median $2,600 with 89.8% sell-through. Paintings (254 lots) median $114,950, record $3,612,500. A typical Milton Avery painting sells for around 44× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 143 lots) the median is $289,800.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 246 | $1,500–$3,250†‡ | $2,400†‡ | $16,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 58 | $3,192–$8,150† | $4,750† | $56,250 |
† 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) | 56 | $11,122–$57,525‡ | $34,380‡ | $247,650 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 148 | $63,625–$337,688† | $180,775† | $2.5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 16 | $581,625–$2M | $1.5M | $3.6M |
† 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) | 81 | $2,125–$7,040†‡ | $4,160†‡ | $75,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 80 | $28,105–$82,425† | $49,320† | $329,000 |
† 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 | $3.6M |
| Paintings | 2018 | $3M |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $329,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $325,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $56,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $50,400 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Milton Avery worth?
Across 759 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Milton Avery work is $6,188. The median Milton Avery print sells for $2,600 across 327 lots. The median Milton Avery painting sells for $114,950 across 221 lots. The median Milton Avery work on paper sells for $20,000 across 161 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Milton Avery prints typically sell for $1,500–$3,250 (the middle half of 246 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Milton Avery paintings typically sell for $63,625–$337,688 (the middle half of 148 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 Milton Avery print?
Based on 327 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Milton Avery print is $2,600. 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 Milton Avery's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Milton Avery print is $56,250.
What is the average price of a Milton Avery painting?
Based on 221 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Milton Avery painting is $114,950. 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 Milton Avery's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Milton Avery painting is $3,612,500.
What is the average price of a Milton Avery work on paper?
Based on 161 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Milton Avery work on paper is $20,000. 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 Milton Avery's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Milton Avery work on paper is $329,000.
What is the average price of a small Milton Avery print?
Based on 246 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Milton Avery print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,400, 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 Milton Avery painting?
Based on 148 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Milton Avery painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $180,775, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Milton Avery's auction record?
Milton Avery's auction record is $3,612,500, set in 2016.
See the full Milton Avery record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Milton Avery on OpeningBid →