Oscar Howe (1915–1983)
What is Oscar Howe’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 14 auction results for Oscar Howe at 3 houses since 2024. Over the last 24 months the median price was $178,475 including buyer’s premium (middle half $147,125–$226,875, n=10). The auction record is $272,250 for Herakawin (Elk Woman) (2026, Coeur d'Alene Art Auction). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herakawin (Elk Woman), 1963 | — | $272,250 | Coeur d'Alene Art Auction | Jul 2026 |
| 2 | Horse Dancer | — | $272,250 | Coeur d'Alene Art Auction | Jul 2026 |
| 3 | Dancer | Casein on paper | $229,900 | Coeur d'Alene Art Auction | Jul 2025 |
| 4 | Sioux War Dancer, 1965 | — | $217,800 | Coeur d'Alene Art Auction | Jul 2026 |
| 5 | Dawn Rider, 1966 | Casein on paper | $181,500 | Coeur d'Alene Art Auction | Jul 2025 |
| 6 | Sioux Origin | Casein on paper | $175,450 | Coeur d'Alene Art Auction | Jul 2025 |
| 7 | Man, Horse, Buffalo | Casein on paper | $169,400 | Coeur d'Alene Art Auction | Jul 2025 |
| 8 | War Dancer, 1961 | Casein on paper | $139,700 | John Moran Auctioneers | Apr 2026 |
| 9 | "Sioux Council" | — | $63,500 | John Moran Auctioneers | Sep 2026 |
| 10 | Smoke signals, circa 1953 | Ink, presumably in another hand, on the frame's backing paper | $40,000 | John Moran Auctioneers | Jun 2024 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 6 | $154,550 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $178,475 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 14 results from 3 houses · How we compute these figures
Oscar Howe is a Native American artist with 8 auction lots recorded since 2024, median price $217,800.
A work by Oscar Howe sold in 2026 for $272,250, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Oscar Howe record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Oscar Howe on OpeningBid →What is a Oscar Howe work worth?
Across 8 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Oscar Howe work is $217,800.
The median Oscar Howe painting sells for $154,550 across 6 lots.
The median Oscar Howe work on paper sells for $107,725 across 2 lots.
The median Oscar Howe print sells for $297 across 1 lots.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 1 | $297 | $297 | — | 2024-03-12 |
| Paintings | 6 | $154,550 | $229,900 | — | 2026-04-07 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $107,725 | $175,450 | — | 2025-07-26 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $199,650 | $272,250 | — | 2026-07-25 |
Oscar Howe's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $297. Paintings (6 lots) median $154,550, record $229,900. A typical Oscar Howe painting sells for around 520× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 8 lots) the median is $199,650.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $20,000–$181,500 | $169,400 | $229,900 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2025 | $229,900 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $181,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $175,450 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $40,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $297 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Oscar Howe worth?
Across 8 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Oscar Howe work is $217,800. The median Oscar Howe painting sells for $154,550 across 6 lots. The median Oscar Howe work on paper sells for $107,725 across 2 lots. The median Oscar Howe print sells for $297 across 1 lots.
What is Oscar Howe's auction record?
Oscar Howe's auction record is $272,250, set in 2026.
See the full Oscar Howe record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Oscar Howe on OpeningBid →