Sidney Nolan (1917–1992)
What is Sidney Nolan’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 986 auction results for Sidney Nolan at 24 houses since 2001. Over the last 24 months the median price was $6,605 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,468–$23,101, n=92). The auction record is $2,424,583 for Ned Kelly and Horse (2026, Smith & Singer). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ned Kelly and Horse, 1955 | Oil and enamel paint on composition board | $2,424,583 | Smith & Singer | Apr 2026 |
| 2 | EARLY MORNING TOWNSHIP, 1955 | Ripolin enamel and oil on composition board | $1,906,576 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2023 |
| 3 | NED KELLY – OUTLAW, 1955 | Oil and enamel paint on composition board | $1,809,129 | Deutscher and Hackett | Mar 2017 |
| 4 | Desert Bird, 1948 | Enamel paint on composition board | $1,068,989 | Smith & Singer | Nov 2023 |
| 5 | Ned Kelly at Glenrowan, 1956 | Oil on board | $977,058 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 6 | Ned Kelly, 1955 | Oil and enamel paint on composition board | $786,918 | Smith & Singer | Aug 2026 |
| 7 | CROSSING THE RIVER, 1964 | Oil on composition board | $762,631 | Deutscher and Hackett | Jul 2022 |
| 8 | Gully (Ned Kelly), 1917 | Oil paint | $539,402 | Christie's | Dec 2007 |
| 9 | Ned Kelly and Swamp, 1960 | Synthetic polymer paint and polyvinyl acetate on board | $436,163 | Menzies Art Brands | Jun 2024 |
| 10 | GLENROWAN, 1955 | Ripolin on composition board | $430,745 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2017 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 178 | $20,557 |
| Other | 102 | $15,757 |
| Works on paper | 197 | $5,084 |
| Prints | 72 | $1,356 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 86 | $44,439 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 175 | $5,147 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 133 | $4,237 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 986 results from 24 houses · How we compute these figures
Sidney Nolan is an Australian artist with 1,448 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $8,207. 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 Sidney Nolan sold in 2026 for $14,366, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
101 Sidney Nolan works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Sidney Nolan free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Sidney Nolan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Sidney Nolan on OpeningBid →What is a Sidney Nolan work worth?
Across 977 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sidney Nolan work is $8,207.
The median Sidney Nolan painting sells for $22,888 across 404 lots.
The median Sidney Nolan work on paper sells for $4,188 across 170 lots.
The median Sidney Nolan print sells for $1,338 across 101 lots.
Large (over 120 cm) Sidney Nolan paintings typically sell for $21,205–$86,530 (the middle half of 185 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Sidney Nolan paintings typically sell for $7,289–$41,834 (the middle half of 141 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 | 110 | $1,338†‡ | $57,180† | 91.8% | 2026-07-28 |
| Paintings | 452 | $22,888†‡ | $2.4M | 89.4% | 2026-08-27 |
| Works on Paper | 177 | $4,188†‡ | $64,647 | 96% | 2026-06-17 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $6,454† | $6,454† | — | 2022-04-12 |
| Photography | 2 | $1,710† | $2,713† | — | 2022-10-12 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 73 | $235,437† | $4.1M† | — | 2026-08-25 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Sidney Nolan's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (110 lots) median $1,338 with 91.8% sell-through. Paintings (452 lots) median $22,888, record $2,424,583. A typical Sidney Nolan painting sells for around 17× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 73 lots) the median is $235,437.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $742–$2,474†‡ | $823†‡ | $4,203† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 91 | $518–$3,336†‡ | $1,356†‡ | $73,389 |
† 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) | 70 | $3,006–$9,846†‡ | $4,591†‡ | $193,133 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 141 | $7,289–$41,834† | $18,251† | $2.4M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 185 | $21,205–$86,530† | $44,215† | $1.1M |
† 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) | 113 | $2,095–$5,736†‡ | $3,585†‡ | $34,634† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 55 | $4,015–$16,708† | $6,970† | $64,647 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2026 | $2.4M |
| Paintings | 2023 | $1.9M |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $73,389 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $64,647 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $38,346† |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $34,460 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $6,454† |
| Photography | 2022 | $2,713† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Sidney Nolan worth?
Across 977 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sidney Nolan work is $8,207. The median Sidney Nolan painting sells for $22,888 across 404 lots. The median Sidney Nolan work on paper sells for $4,188 across 170 lots. The median Sidney Nolan print sells for $1,338 across 101 lots. Large (over 120 cm) Sidney Nolan paintings typically sell for $21,205–$86,530 (the middle half of 185 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Sidney Nolan paintings typically sell for $7,289–$41,834 (the middle half of 141 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 Sidney Nolan painting?
Based on 404 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sidney Nolan painting is $22,888. 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 Sidney Nolan's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Sidney Nolan painting is $2,424,583.
What is the average price of a Sidney Nolan work on paper?
Based on 170 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sidney Nolan work on paper is $4,188. 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 Sidney Nolan's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Sidney Nolan work on paper is $64,647.
What is the average price of a Sidney Nolan print?
Based on 101 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sidney Nolan print is $1,338. 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 Sidney Nolan's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Sidney Nolan print is $57,180. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $57,180 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a large Sidney Nolan painting?
Based on 185 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Sidney Nolan painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $44,215, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a medium Sidney Nolan painting?
Based on 141 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Sidney Nolan painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $18,251, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Sidney Nolan's auction record?
Sidney Nolan's auction record is $4,114,737, set in 2010. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $4,114,737 (buyer's premium not included).
See the full Sidney Nolan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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