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

# Robert Motherwell (1915–1991)

Robert Motherwell is an American artist with 612 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $3,838. 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 Robert Motherwell sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $29,478 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Robert Motherwell work worth?

Across 529 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Motherwell work is $3,838.

The median Robert Motherwell print sells for $3,640 across 450 lots.

The median Robert Motherwell work on paper sells for $76,093 across 25 lots.

The median Robert Motherwell painting sells for $527,405 across 17 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Robert Motherwell prints typically sell for $2,000–$7,169 (the middle half of 286 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Robert Motherwell prints typically sell for $1,500–$5,511 (the middle half of 102 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 | 490 | $3,640†‡ | $170,921 | 91.8% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 19 | $527,405‡ | $2.3M | 89.5% | 2021-10-09 |
| Works on Paper | 29 | $76,093† | $647,678 | 86.2% | 2026-10-22 |
| Photography | 5 | $2,000 | $3,000 | 80% | 2020-06-25 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 27 | $197,957 | $2.3M | — | 2021-10-09 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Robert Motherwell's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (490 lots) median $3,640 with 91.8% sell-through. Paintings (19 lots) median $527,405, record $2,301,619. A typical Robert Motherwell painting sells for around 145× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 27 lots) the median is $197,957.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 102 | $1,500–$5,511†‡ | $2,750†‡ | $51,660 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 286 | $2,000–$7,169†‡ | $3,556†‡ | $170,921 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 32 | $10,009–$38,377 | $21,408 | $160,087 |

† 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) | 7 | $102,193–$487,209‡ | $197,650‡ | $1.1M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $652,182–$1.8M | $933,991 | $2.3M |

‡ 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) | 12 | $24,697–$70,500 | $58,152 | $113,400 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $81,972–$179,441 | $118,950 | $647,678 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2010 | $2.3M |
| Paintings | 2021 | $1.9M |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $647,678 |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $607,774 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $170,921 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $160,087 |
| Photography | 2020 | $3,000 |
| Photography | 2014 | $2,125 |

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 Robert Motherwell worth?

Across 529 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Motherwell work is $3,838. The median Robert Motherwell print sells for $3,640 across 450 lots. The median Robert Motherwell work on paper sells for $76,093 across 25 lots. The median Robert Motherwell painting sells for $527,405 across 17 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Robert Motherwell prints typically sell for $2,000–$7,169 (the middle half of 286 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Robert Motherwell prints typically sell for $1,500–$5,511 (the middle half of 102 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 Robert Motherwell print?

Based on 450 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Motherwell print is $3,640. 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 Robert Motherwell's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Motherwell print is $170,921.

### What is the average price of a Robert Motherwell work on paper?

Based on 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Motherwell work on paper is $76,093. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Robert Motherwell's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Motherwell work on paper is $647,678.

### What is the average price of a Robert Motherwell painting?

Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Motherwell painting is $527,405. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Robert Motherwell's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Motherwell painting is $2,301,619.

### What is the average price of a medium Robert Motherwell print?

Based on 286 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Robert Motherwell print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,556, 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 Robert Motherwell print?

Based on 102 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Robert Motherwell print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,750, 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 Robert Motherwell's auction record?

Robert Motherwell's auction record is $2,301,619, set in 2010.

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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, “Robert Motherwell auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/motherwell-robert (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.