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

# 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).

- [Peter Busa on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/peter-busa?ref=kg:peter-busa) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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, “Peter Busa auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/peter-busa (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.