Pat Steir (1938–2026)
What is Pat Steir’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 271 auction results for Pat Steir at 31 houses since 2001. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,772 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,600–$18,525, n=51). The auction record is $2,295,000 for Elective Affinity Waterfall (2018, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elective Affinity Waterfall, 1992 | Oil paint | $2,295,000 | Phillips | May 2018 |
| 2 | Paris Waterfall, 1990 | Oil paint | $1,381,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2022 |
| 3 | Morning Moon, 2016 | Oil paint | $1,300,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 4 | Waterfall of the Asian Night, 1990 | Oil paint | $1,048,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |
| 5 | Priscilla Waterfall, 1991 | Oil paint | $975,000 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 6 | Monk Tuyu Meditating Waterfall, 1991 | Oil paint | $800,000 | Phillips | May 2019 |
| 7 | Waterfall Series: Painted with the Chinese in Mind, 1987-1988 | Oil on cotton duck | $721,800 | Sotheby's | Mar 2021 |
| 8 | Smaller Yellow on Blue Waterfall, 1992 | Oil on canvas | $625,371 | Sotheby's | Oct 2023 |
| 9 | Many Colors II (Blue), 2022 | Chalk | $579,600 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 10 | Red and Blue Berlin Waterfall, 1992 | Oil paint | $562,500 | Christie's | May 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 66 | $219,650 |
| Other | 19 | $10,000 |
| Works on paper | 24 | $2,335 |
| Prints | 129 | $2,250 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 80 | $101,200 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 101 | $3,187 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 48 | $1,638 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 271 results from 31 houses · How we compute these figures
Pat Steir is an American artist with 333 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $3,556. 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 Pat Steir sold in 2026 for $9,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
5 Pat Steir works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Pat Steir free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Pat Steir record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Pat Steir on OpeningBid →What is a Pat Steir work worth?
Across 267 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Pat Steir work is $3,556.
The median Pat Steir print sells for $2,032 across 159 lots.
The median Pat Steir painting sells for $218,750 across 69 lots.
The median Pat Steir work on paper sells for $2,125 across 14 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Pat Steir prints typically sell for $973–$4,495 (the middle half of 84 sold lots).
Large (over 120 cm) Pat Steir paintings typically sell for $109,575–$495,075 (the middle half of 48 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 | 180 | $2,032†‡ | $60,480 | 88.3% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 76 | $218,750† | $2.3M | 90.8% | 2026-09-21 |
| Works on Paper | 18 | $2,125† | $302,400 | 77.8% | 2026-06-16 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $27,940 | $27,940 | — | 2023-11-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 45 | $279,400 | $2.3M | — | 2026-02-26 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Pat Steir's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (180 lots) median $2,032 with 88.3% sell-through. Paintings (76 lots) median $218,750, record $2,295,000. A typical Pat Steir painting sells for around 108× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 45 lots) the median is $279,400.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 45 | $756–$1,778† | $1,386† | $3,750 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 84 | $973–$4,495†‡ | $2,655†‡ | $10,880 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 26 | $3,368–$17,482 | $9,188 | $60,480 |
† 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) | 16 | $20,120–$51,436† | $32,250† | $279,400 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 48 | $109,575–$495,075† | $274,500† | $2.3M |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $662–$1,562 | $1,250 | $2,375 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2018 | $2.3M |
| Paintings | 2022 | $1.4M |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $302,400 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $101,600 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $60,480 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $50,800 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $27,940 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Pat Steir worth?
Across 267 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Pat Steir work is $3,556. The median Pat Steir print sells for $2,032 across 159 lots. The median Pat Steir painting sells for $218,750 across 69 lots. The median Pat Steir work on paper sells for $2,125 across 14 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Pat Steir prints typically sell for $973–$4,495 (the middle half of 84 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Pat Steir paintings typically sell for $109,575–$495,075 (the middle half of 48 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 Pat Steir print?
Based on 159 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Pat Steir print is $2,032. 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 Pat Steir's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Pat Steir print is $60,480.
What is the average price of a Pat Steir painting?
Based on 69 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Pat Steir painting is $218,750. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Pat Steir's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Pat Steir painting is $2,295,000.
What is the average price of a Pat Steir work on paper?
Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Pat Steir work on paper is $2,125. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Pat Steir's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Pat Steir work on paper is $302,400.
What is the average price of a medium Pat Steir print?
Based on 84 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Pat Steir print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,655, 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 large Pat Steir painting?
Based on 48 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Pat Steir painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $274,500, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Pat Steir's auction record?
Pat Steir's auction record is $2,295,000, set in 2018.
See the full Pat Steir record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Pat Steir on OpeningBid →