Peter Lanyon (1918–1964)
What is Peter Lanyon’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 140 auction results for Peter Lanyon at 16 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,097 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,704–$17,477, n=34). The auction record is $1,627,473 for Orpheus (2018, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orpheus, 1961 | Oil paint | $1,627,473 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 2 | Rising Air, 1961 | Oil paint | $1,326,176 | Sotheby's | Jun 2021 |
| 3 | Witness, 1962 | Oil on canvas | $990,535 | Sotheby's | Nov 2016 |
| 4 | Cloud Base, 1962 | Oil on canvas | $815,098 | Christie's | Oct 2026 |
| 5 | Tree Top Nest, 1956 | Oil paint | $708,359 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 6 | Fly Away, 1961 | Oil paint | $624,063 | Christie's | Oct 2024 |
| 7 | Sand Bar, 1956 | Oil paint | $539,822 | Christie's | Mar 2023 |
| 8 | Sea Going, 1961 | Oil paint | $509,554 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |
| 9 | Two Close, 1962 | Oil paint | $503,722 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 10 | Antigone, 1962 | Oil paint | $489,910 | Christie's | Mar 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 48 | $78,883 |
| Works on paper | 49 | $12,030 |
| Other | 21 | $9,423 |
| Prints | 14 | $2,092 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 20 | $434,487 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 47 | $12,200 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 64 | $6,847 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 140 results from 16 houses · How we compute these figures
Peter Lanyon is a British (modern) artist with 173 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $13,864. 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 Lanyon sold in 2026 for $102,727, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Peter Lanyon work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Peter Lanyon free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Peter Lanyon record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Peter Lanyon on OpeningBid →What is a Peter Lanyon work worth?
Across 140 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Peter Lanyon work is $13,864.
The median Peter Lanyon painting sells for $42,176 across 54 lots.
The median Peter Lanyon work on paper sells for $9,864 across 54 lots.
The median Peter Lanyon print sells for $2,596 across 16 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Peter Lanyon work on papers typically sell for $1,908–$16,879 (the middle half of 35 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 | 17 | $2,596 | $36,150 | 94.1% | 2026-10-13 |
| Paintings | 65 | $42,176‡ | $1.6M | 83.1% | 2026-10-14 |
| Works on Paper | 65 | $9,864† | $173,155 | 83.1% | 2026-10-22 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $12,080 | $12,080 | — | 2017-10-25 |
| Photography | 1 | $25,747 | $25,747 | — | 2020-12-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 24 | $318,262 | $1.6M | — | 2026-10-22 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Peter Lanyon's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (17 lots) median $2,596 with 94.1% sell-through. Paintings (65 lots) median $42,176, record $1,627,473. A typical Peter Lanyon painting sells for around 16× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 24 lots) the median is $318,262.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $1,905–$4,180 | $2,090 | $5,715 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $1,094–$6,503 | $3,097 | $36,150 |
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 18 | $5,282–$33,927‡ | $19,246‡ | $144,081 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 15 | $11,809–$105,008‡ | $41,829‡ | $217,254 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 19 | $275,424–$666,211 | $489,910 | $1.6M |
‡ 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) | 35 | $1,908–$16,879† | $6,611† | $60,952 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $3,711–$50,205 | $22,224 | $173,155 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2018 | $1.6M |
| Paintings | 2021 | $1.3M |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $173,155 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $102,727 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $36,150 |
| Photography | 2020 | $25,747 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $12,080 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $8,258 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Peter Lanyon worth?
Across 140 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Peter Lanyon work is $13,864. The median Peter Lanyon painting sells for $42,176 across 54 lots. The median Peter Lanyon work on paper sells for $9,864 across 54 lots. The median Peter Lanyon print sells for $2,596 across 16 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Peter Lanyon work on papers typically sell for $1,908–$16,879 (the middle half of 35 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 Peter Lanyon painting?
Based on 54 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Peter Lanyon painting is $42,176. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Peter Lanyon's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Peter Lanyon painting is $1,627,473.
What is the average price of a Peter Lanyon work on paper?
Based on 54 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Peter Lanyon work on paper is $9,864. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Peter Lanyon's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Peter Lanyon work on paper is $173,155.
What is the average price of a Peter Lanyon print?
Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Peter Lanyon print is $2,596.
What is Peter Lanyon's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Peter Lanyon print is $36,150.
What is the average price of a small Peter Lanyon work on paper?
Based on 35 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Peter Lanyon work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $6,611, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a large Peter Lanyon painting?
Based on 19 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Peter Lanyon painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $489,910, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Peter Lanyon's auction record?
Peter Lanyon's auction record is $1,627,473, set in 2018.
See the full Peter Lanyon record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Peter Lanyon on OpeningBid →