Otto Piene (1928–2014)
What is Otto Piene’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,149 auction results for Otto Piene at 50 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $14,555 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,890–$31,327, n=50). The auction record is $584,329 for Due onde nell’oscurità (Two waves in the dark) (2014, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Due onde nell’oscurità (Two waves in the dark), 1963 | Oil paint | $584,329 | Christie's | Oct 2014 |
| 2 | Bronze and Gold IV, 1958 | Bronze | $546,674 | Christie's | Mar 2018 |
| 3 | Goldgold, 1959-65 | Gold leaf on canvas in artist's frame | $540,896 | Christie's | Oct 2010 |
| 4 | Untitled (Rasterbild), 1958 | Oil and gold leaf on canvasboard | $529,152 | Christie's | Apr 2015 |
| 5 | Rasterbild, 1958-1972 | Oil and gold leaf on canvasboard | $501,745 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 6 | Rasterbild, 1957 | Oil paint | $469,934 | Christie's | Jun 2012 |
| 7 | Kleine Feuerblume, 1963 | Oil and soot on canvas | $415,320 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 8 | Light and Smoke (Accumulation), 1961 | Oil and soot on canvas | $408,628 | Christie's | Nov 2015 |
| 9 | Rasterbild, 1959 | Oil paint | $397,102 | Christie's | Dec 2017 |
| 10 | Luther Rose, 1962 | Oil, fire and soot on canvas | $395,640 | Ketterer Kunst | Jun 2016 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 157 | $47,191 |
| Sculpture | 21 | $30,227 |
| Other | 85 | $23,235 |
| Works on paper | 106 | $20,325 |
| Prints | 62 | $1,229 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 28 | $61,996 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 283 | $26,447 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 100 | $11,060 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,149 results from 50 houses · How we compute these figures
Otto Piene is a German artist with 1,509 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $6,341. 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 Otto Piene sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $7,154 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Otto Piene record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Otto Piene on OpeningBid →What is a Otto Piene work worth?
Across 1,129 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Otto Piene work is $6,341.
The median Otto Piene print sells for $888 across 409 lots.
The median Otto Piene work on paper sells for $15,500 across 196 lots.
The median Otto Piene painting sells for $34,406 across 218 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Otto Piene prints typically sell for $539–$1,354 (the middle half of 254 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Otto Piene work on papers typically sell for $11,462–$26,854 (the middle half of 140 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 | 495 | $888†‡ | $77,916‡ | 82.6% | 2026-09-26 |
| Paintings | 255 | $34,406†‡ | $584,329 | 85.5% | 2026-06-19 |
| Works on Paper | 265 | $15,500†‡ | $154,208‡ | 74% | 2026-09-26 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 28 | $32,511†‡ | $546,674 | 78.6% | 2025-10-24 |
| Photography | 1 | $936‡ | $936‡ | — | 2014-11-29 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 58 | $212,324‡ | $584,329 | — | 2026-06-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Otto Piene's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (495 lots) median $888 with 82.6% sell-through. Paintings (255 lots) median $34,406, record $584,329. A typical Otto Piene painting sells for around 39× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 58 lots) the median is $212,324.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 115 | $454–$1,135†‡ | $613†‡ | $8,468 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 254 | $539–$1,354†‡ | $938†‡ | $77,916‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 34 | $923–$1,573†‡ | $1,211†‡ | $28,776‡ |
† 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) | 60 | $7,465–$20,877‡ | $12,295‡ | $245,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 133 | $25,718–$87,985†‡ | $45,092†‡ | $584,329 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 23 | $56,320–$170,745‡ | $89,408‡ | $540,896 |
† 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) | 51 | $2,038–$11,477†‡ | $5,707†‡ | $87,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 140 | $11,462–$26,854†‡ | $18,794†‡ | $138,775‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $17,350–$34,317†‡ | $26,996†‡ | $197,957 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $28,968–$115,520‡ | $42,353‡ | $546,674 |
† 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 | 2014 | $584,329 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $546,674 |
| Paintings | 2010 | $540,896 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $294,870 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $154,208‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $138,775‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $77,916‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $60,000 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Otto Piene worth?
Across 1,129 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Otto Piene work is $6,341. The median Otto Piene print sells for $888 across 409 lots. The median Otto Piene work on paper sells for $15,500 across 196 lots. The median Otto Piene painting sells for $34,406 across 218 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Otto Piene prints typically sell for $539–$1,354 (the middle half of 254 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Otto Piene work on papers typically sell for $11,462–$26,854 (the middle half of 140 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 Otto Piene print?
Based on 409 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Otto Piene print is $888. 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 Otto Piene's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Otto Piene print is $77,916. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a Otto Piene work on paper?
Based on 196 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Otto Piene work on paper is $15,500. 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 Otto Piene's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Otto Piene work on paper is $154,208. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a Otto Piene painting?
Based on 218 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Otto Piene painting is $34,406. 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 Otto Piene's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Otto Piene painting is $584,329.
What is the average price of a medium Otto Piene print?
Based on 254 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Otto Piene print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $938, 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 Otto Piene work on paper?
Based on 140 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Otto Piene work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $18,794, 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 Otto Piene's auction record?
Otto Piene's auction record is $584,329, set in 2014.
See the full Otto Piene record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Otto Piene on OpeningBid →