Phil Stern (1919–2014)
What is Phil Stern’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 20 auction results for Phil Stern at 11 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $462 including buyer’s premium (middle half $391–$657, n=6). The auction record is $8,890 for John F. Kennedy and Frank Sinatra, 1961 (2026, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John F. Kennedy and Frank Sinatra, 1961, 1919 | Gelatin silver print, printed later | $8,890 | Christie's | Mar 2026 |
| 2 | James Dean, 1955 | Gelatin silver print | $3,072 | Bonhams | Feb 2024 |
| 3 | The Unforgiven, 1959 | Fifteen gelatin silver production stills | $1,676 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 4 | James Dean, 1919 | Photograph | $748 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2003 |
| 5 | Marilyn Monroe and Jack Benny, 1953 | Inkjet print | $710 | Cowley Abbott Fine Art Auction House | Jul 2026 |
| 6 | James Dean and Dennis Stock, 1955 | Gelatin silver print | $512 | Bonhams | Feb 2024 |
| 7 | John Wayne, Acapulco, Mexico, 1949 | Inkjet print | $497 | Cowley Abbott Fine Art Auction House | Jul 2026 |
| 8 | John F. Kennedy and Frank Sinatra, 1961 | Inkjet print | $426 | Cowley Abbott Fine Art Auction House | Jul 2026 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MARILYN MONROE, MARILYN MONROE, 1987 | Poster depicting five black and white coloured photographs... hand-coloured by Del Greger | $571 | Sworders | Apr 2021 |
| 2 | MARILYN MONROE, 1987 | Poster depicting five black and white coloured photographs... hand-coloured by Del Greger | $551 | Sworders | Apr 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 16 | $505 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $426 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 20 results from 11 houses · How we compute these figures
Phil Stern is an American artist with 26 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $512. 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 Phil Stern sold in 2026 for $710, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Phil Stern record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Phil Stern on OpeningBid →What is a Phil Stern work worth?
Across 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Phil Stern work is $512.
The median Phil Stern photograph sells for $497 across 17 lots.
The median Phil Stern print sells for $561 across 2 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 | $561 | $571 | — | 2021-04-13 |
| Photography | 17 | $497†‡ | $8,890 | — | 2026-07-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 15 | $316–$1,422†‡ | $497†‡ | $8,890 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2026 | $8,890 |
| Photography | 2024 | $3,072 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $571 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $550 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Phil Stern worth?
Across 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Phil Stern work is $512. The median Phil Stern photograph sells for $497 across 17 lots. The median Phil Stern print sells for $561 across 2 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 Phil Stern photograph?
Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Phil Stern photograph is $497. 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 Phil Stern's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Phil Stern photograph is $8,890.
What is the average price of a small Phil Stern photograph?
Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Phil Stern photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $497, 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 Phil Stern's auction record?
Phil Stern's auction record is $8,890, set in 2026.
See the full Phil Stern record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Phil Stern on OpeningBid →