Peter Busa (1914–1983)
Peter Busa is an American artist with 43 auction lots recorded since 2007, median price $1,819. 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 Peter Busa sold in 2026 for $40,960, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Peter Busa work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Peter Busa free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Peter Busa record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Peter Busa on OpeningBid →What is a Peter Busa work worth?
Across 40 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Peter Busa work is $1,819.
The median Peter Busa painting sells for $2,616 across 24 lots.
The median Peter Busa work on paper sells for $1,584 across 13 lots.
The median Peter Busa print sells for $2,375 across 1 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 | 2 | $2,375 | $2,375 | 50% | 2017-06-15 |
| Paintings | 25 | $2,616†‡ | $40,960 | 96% | 2026-10-08 |
| Works on Paper | 13 | $1,584‡ | $5,500‡ | — | 2026-05-16 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Peter Busa's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $2,375 with 50% sell-through. Paintings (25 lots) median $2,616, record $40,960.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $1,300–$4,250†‡ | $2,625†‡ | $11,250 |
† 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) | 5 | $1,625–$2,600‡ | $1,875‡ | $4,740 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $1,200–$2,177‡ | $1,392‡ | $5,500‡ |
‡ 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 | 2026 | $40,960 |
| Paintings | 2024 | $18,000‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $5,500‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2012 | $4,740 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $2,375 |
‡ 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 Peter Busa worth?
Across 40 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Peter Busa work is $1,819. The median Peter Busa painting sells for $2,616 across 24 lots. The median Peter Busa work on paper sells for $1,584 across 13 lots. The median Peter Busa print sells for $2,375 across 1 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 Peter Busa painting?
Based on 24 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Peter Busa painting is $2,616. 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 Peter Busa's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Peter Busa painting is $40,960.
What is the average price of a Peter Busa work on paper?
Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Peter Busa work on paper is $1,584. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Peter Busa's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Peter Busa work on paper is $5,500. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a medium Peter Busa painting?
Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Peter Busa painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,625, 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 Peter Busa's auction record?
Peter Busa's auction record is $40,960, set in 2026.
See the full Peter Busa record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Peter Busa on OpeningBid →