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

# Philip Taaffe (b. 1955)

## What is Philip Taaffe’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 123 auction results for Philip Taaffe at 20 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $6,406 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,952–$15,040, n=14). The auction record is $189,000 for Untitled Composition (2022, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled Composition, 1984 | Collage | $189,000 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 2 | Adam, Eve, 1984 | Acrylic paint | $175,500 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 3 | Capella, 1991 | Oil paint | $168,000 | Christie's | May 2007 |
| 4 | CHARTERHOUSE, 1993 | Mixed media | $137,000 | Phillips | May 2015 |
| 5 | Frieze, 1991 | Acrylic paint | $117,664 | Christie's | Feb 2008 |
| 6 | Composition with Gemstones, 2001 | Mixed media | $106,250 | Phillips | May 2017 |
| 7 | Forest Lantern, 1981 | Oil paint | $85,851 | Christie's | Apr 2017 |
| 8 | Overtone, 1983 | Acrylic paint | $83,752 | Phillips | Mar 2023 |
| 9 | Timothy's Gate Transfigured, 1987 | Silkscreen on paper collage and acrylic on canvas | $79,756 | Christie's | Jun 2023 |
| 10 | Alcyonaria, 2011 | Mixed media on canvas | $75,600 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 25 | $40,320 |
| Paintings | 39 | $30,240 |
| Works on paper | 29 | $2,520 |
| Prints | 13 | $1,890 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 43 | $56,250 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 39 | $7,805 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 17 | $1,800 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 123 results from 20 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Philip Taaffe is an American artist with 160 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $10,555. 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 Philip Taaffe sold in 2026 for $30,965, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Philip Taaffe work worth?

Across 122 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Philip Taaffe work is $10,555.

The median Philip Taaffe print sells for $2,520 across 27 lots.

The median Philip Taaffe painting sells for $22,680 across 31 lots.

The median Philip Taaffe work on paper sells for $7,812 across 28 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 | 37 | $2,520‡ | $75,000 | 73% | 2026-10-20 |
| Paintings | 35 | $22,680† | $85,851 | 88.6% | 2026-07-07 |
| Works on Paper | 31 | $7,812†‡ | $189,000 | 90.3% | 2025-02-28 |
| Photography | 3 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $152,500 | $189,000 | — | 2022-05-13 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Philip Taaffe's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (37 lots) median $2,520 with 73% sell-through. Paintings (35 lots) median $22,680, record $85,851. A typical Philip Taaffe painting sells for around 9.0× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 6 lots) the median is $152,500.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $531–$911‡ | $625‡ | $2,420 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $1,512–$16,089 | $4,375 | $49,056 |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $1,800–$2,750 | $2,520 | $3,750 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $3,948–$22,918† | $8,320† | $38,801 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 15 | $25,918–$66,961 | $57,150 | $85,851 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $975–$1,898† | $1,125† | $2,394 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $2,731–$11,340‡ | $8,125‡ | $20,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $29,705–$61,819 | $37,382 | $189,000 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $189,000 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $85,851 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $79,756 |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $75,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $68,985 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $49,056 |

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 Philip Taaffe worth?

Across 122 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Philip Taaffe work is $10,555. The median Philip Taaffe print sells for $2,520 across 27 lots. The median Philip Taaffe painting sells for $22,680 across 31 lots. The median Philip Taaffe work on paper sells for $7,812 across 28 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 Philip Taaffe print?

Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Philip Taaffe print is $2,520. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Philip Taaffe's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Philip Taaffe print is $75,000.

### What is the average price of a Philip Taaffe painting?

Based on 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Philip Taaffe painting is $22,680. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Philip Taaffe's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Philip Taaffe painting is $85,851.

### What is the average price of a Philip Taaffe work on paper?

Based on 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Philip Taaffe work on paper is $7,812. 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 Philip Taaffe's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Philip Taaffe work on paper is $189,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Philip Taaffe print?

Based on 17 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Philip Taaffe print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,375, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is the average price of a large Philip Taaffe painting?

Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Philip Taaffe painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $57,150, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Philip Taaffe's auction record?

Philip Taaffe's auction record is $189,000, set in 2022.

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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, “Philip Taaffe auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/philip-taaffe (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.