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

# Paul Thek (1933–1988)

## What is Paul Thek’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 55 auction results for Paul Thek at 10 houses since 2008. Over the last 24 months the median price was $22,323 including buyer’s premium (middle half $4,192–$64,432, n=5). The auction record is $201,338 for Untitled (five works on newspaper) (2018, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled (five works on newspaper), 1975 | Acrylique sur papier journal | $201,338 | Christie's | Oct 2018 |
| 2 | Untitled (The Personal Effects of the Pied Piper Series), 1975 | Bronze | $137,471 | Christie's | Mar 2024 |
| 3 | Untitled | Sans Titre, 1970 | Oil paint | $136,458 | Sotheby's | Mar 2022 |
| 4 | Fireflies, 1979 | Oil on canvas board in artist's frame and picture light | $129,626 | Sotheby's | Jun 2022 |
| 5 | Wild Irish Rose, 1980 | Acrylic on canvas, in artist frame with picture light | $127,924 | Ketterer Kunst | Dec 2018 |
| 6 | Two men throwing words at each other, 1979 | Oil paint | $126,641 | Christie's | Jun 2019 |
| 7 | Untitled (Island), 1969 | Gouache | $83,469 | Kunsthaus Lempertz | Jun 2017 |
| 8 | Untitled (Schwimmer, 10.10.69), 1969 | Acrylic paint | $80,687 | Kunsthaus Lempertz | Jun 2017 |
| 9 | Untitled (oil on canvas, in two parts), 1971 | Oil paint | $79,553 | Christie's | Apr 2016 |
| 10 | Boy Flipping, 1979 | Oil paint | $77,392 | Christie's | Jun 2019 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 18 | $66,966 |
| Sculpture | 5 | $49,109 |
| Other | 8 | $40,658 |
| Works on paper | 19 | $30,000 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 22 | $44,847 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 29 | $34,522 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 55 results from 10 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Paul Thek is an American artist with 64 auction lots recorded since 2008, median price $39,834. 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 Paul Thek sold in 2026 for $64,432, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Paul Thek work worth?

Across 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Paul Thek work is $39,834.

The median Paul Thek painting sells for $65,751 across 20 lots.

The median Paul Thek work on paper sells for $30,000 across 19 lots.

The median Paul Thek sculpture sells for $49,109 across 5 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 | 4 | $3,930† | $4,192 | 75% | 2024-12-18 |
| Paintings | 23 | $65,751 | $129,626 | 87% | 2025-07-08 |
| Works on Paper | 21 | $30,000‡ | $201,338 | 90.5% | 2026-10-15 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 5 | $49,109 | $137,471 | — | 2024-03-09 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $133,042 | $201,338 | — | 2024-03-09 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Paul Thek's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (4 lots) median $3,930 with 75% sell-through. Paintings (23 lots) median $65,751, record $129,626. A typical Paul Thek painting sells for around 17× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 6 lots) the median is $133,042.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $38,831–$91,325 | $72,467 | $129,626 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $34,444–$69,964 | $51,241 | $83,469 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $6,774–$26,972 | $18,900 | $35,093 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 12 | $25,837–$65,786‡ | $37,715‡ | $201,338 |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $201,338 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $137,471 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $136,458 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $129,626 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $127,924 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $71,906 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $4,192 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $3,930 |

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 Paul Thek worth?

Across 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Paul Thek work is $39,834. The median Paul Thek painting sells for $65,751 across 20 lots. The median Paul Thek work on paper sells for $30,000 across 19 lots. The median Paul Thek sculpture sells for $49,109 across 5 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 Paul Thek painting?

Based on 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Paul Thek painting is $65,751.

### What is Paul Thek's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Paul Thek painting is $129,626.

### What is the average price of a Paul Thek work on paper?

Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Paul Thek work on paper is $30,000. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Paul Thek's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Paul Thek work on paper is $201,338.

### What is the average price of a medium Paul Thek work on paper?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Paul Thek work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $37,715, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a small Paul Thek painting?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Paul Thek painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $72,467, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Paul Thek's auction record?

Paul Thek's auction record is $201,338, set in 2018.

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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, “Paul Thek auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/paul-thek (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.