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

# Sam Shaw (1912–1999)

Sam Shaw is an American artist with 179 auction lots recorded since 2008, median price $430. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by Sam Shaw sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $517 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Sam Shaw work worth?

Across 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sam Shaw work is $430.

The median Sam Shaw photograph sells for $430 across 18 lots.

Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Photography | 21 | $430† | $6,240 | 85.7% | 2026-09-03 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

## Price by size

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $214–$850† | $487† | $6,240 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $396–$522 | $397 | $2,978 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2009 | $6,240 |
| Photography | 2020 | $2,978 |

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 Sam Shaw worth?

Across 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sam Shaw work is $430. The median Sam Shaw photograph sells for $430 across 18 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a Sam Shaw photograph?

Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sam Shaw photograph is $430. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Sam Shaw's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Sam Shaw photograph is $6,240.

### What is the average price of a small Sam Shaw photograph?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Sam Shaw photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $487, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Sam Shaw's auction record?

Sam Shaw's auction record is $6,240, set in 2009.

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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, “Sam Shaw auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/sam-shaw (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.