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

# Sam Szafran (1920–2020)

## What is Sam Szafran’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 369 auction results for Sam Szafran at 20 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,942 including buyer’s premium (middle half $947–$14,666, n=90). The auction record is $1,179,417 for L'Atelier, rue de Crussol (2014, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L'Atelier, rue de Crussol | Pastel sur papier | $1,179,417 | Sotheby's | Jun 2014 |
| 2 | Atelier de la rue de Crussol, 1971 | Pastel on cardboard | $900,158 | Sotheby's | Dec 2020 |
| 3 | Plants with Figure, 1984 | Pastel on cardboard | $752,671 | Sotheby's | Dec 2020 |
| 4 | L’Imprimerie (La Presse de l’atelier Bellini), 1974 | Pastel on cardboard | $696,540 | Sotheby's | Jun 2021 |
| 5 | Escalier, 1992 | Watercolour on silk | $560,052 | Sotheby's | Jun 2021 |
| 6 | Sans Titre (Escalier) | Aquarelle, mine de plomb et gouache sur soie | $554,810 | Sotheby's | Dec 2015 |
| 7 | L'escalier, 1992 | Watercolour on silk | $487,194 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 8 | Untitled (Plants with Skylight), 1987 | Watercolor on paper | $457,697 | Sotheby's | Dec 2020 |
| 9 | Escalier, 1974 | Pastel on paper | $428,200 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 10 | Feuillage, 1976 | Pastel and charcoal on paper | $378,872 | Sotheby's | Jun 2022 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 108 | $66,834 |
| Paintings | 17 | $10,871 |
| Other | 79 | $3,094 |
| Prints | 93 | $1,566 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 35 | $134,805 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 155 | $4,267 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 93 | $1,359 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 369 results from 20 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Sam Szafran is a French artist with 433 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $4,077. 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 Sam Szafran sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $5,687 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Sam Szafran work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Sam Szafran on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/sam-szafran?ref=kg:sam-szafran) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Sam Szafran work worth?

Across 368 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sam Szafran work is $4,077.

The median Sam Szafran work on paper sells for $32,308 across 172 lots.

The median Sam Szafran print sells for $1,418 across 121 lots.

The median Sam Szafran painting sells for $8,919 across 26 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Sam Szafran work on papers typically sell for $6,245–$91,493 (the middle half of 99 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Sam Szafran prints typically sell for $812–$2,756 (the middle half of 60 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 | 139 | $1,418†‡ | $45,431 | 87.1% | 2026-10-02 |
| Paintings | 27 | $8,919†‡ | $253,651 | 96.3% | 2025-10-22 |
| Works on Paper | 187 | $32,308†‡ | $1.2M | 92% | 2026-06-30 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 7 | $2,746†‡ | $8,833 | — | 2023-02-15 |
| Photography | 2 | $48,427 | $95,918 | — | 2026-02-18 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 47 | $244,445 | $1.2M | — | 2026-04-10 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Sam Szafran's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (139 lots) median $1,418 with 87.1% sell-through. Paintings (27 lots) median $8,919, record $253,651. A typical Sam Szafran painting sells for around 6.3× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 47 lots) the median is $244,445.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 47 | $529–$1,803†‡ | $946†‡ | $45,431 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 60 | $812–$2,756†‡ | $1,799†‡ | $7,871 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $2,243–$4,302 | $3,820 | $4,699 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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) | 8 | $5,599–$12,905‡ | $8,919‡ | $30,827 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $2,787–$6,603† | $3,540† | $54,356 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $14,544–$64,720‡ | $34,450‡ | $253,651 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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) | 43 | $968–$41,166†‡ | $2,021†‡ | $182,230 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 99 | $6,245–$91,493†‡ | $25,222†‡ | $1.2M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 21 | $134,805–$354,144 | $244,445 | $696,540 |

† 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 | 2014 | $1.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $900,158 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $253,651 |
| Photography | 2021 | $95,918 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $87,313 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $45,431 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $14,264 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $8,833 |

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 Szafran worth?

Across 368 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sam Szafran work is $4,077. The median Sam Szafran work on paper sells for $32,308 across 172 lots. The median Sam Szafran print sells for $1,418 across 121 lots. The median Sam Szafran painting sells for $8,919 across 26 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Sam Szafran work on papers typically sell for $6,245–$91,493 (the middle half of 99 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Sam Szafran prints typically sell for $812–$2,756 (the middle half of 60 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 Sam Szafran work on paper?

Based on 172 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sam Szafran work on paper is $32,308. 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 Sam Szafran's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Sam Szafran work on paper is $1,179,417.

### What is the average price of a Sam Szafran print?

Based on 121 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sam Szafran print is $1,418. 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 Sam Szafran's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Sam Szafran print is $45,431.

### What is the average price of a Sam Szafran painting?

Based on 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sam Szafran painting is $8,919. 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 Sam Szafran's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Sam Szafran painting is $253,651.

### What is the average price of a medium Sam Szafran work on paper?

Based on 99 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Sam Szafran work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $25,222, 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 the average price of a medium Sam Szafran print?

Based on 60 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Sam Szafran print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,799, 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 Sam Szafran's auction record?

Sam Szafran's auction record is $1,179,417, set in 2014.

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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 Szafran auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/sam-szafran (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.