> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/phil-stern · updated 2026-11-03

# Phil Stern (1919–2014)

## What is Phil Stern’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 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.

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

| # | 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 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | 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 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 16 | $505 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $426 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 20 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

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

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Phil Stern auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/phil-stern (updated 2026-11-03).

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.