Sigmar Polke (1941–2010)
Sigmar Polke is a German artist with 114 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $24,072. 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 Sigmar Polke sold in 2020 for $809,688, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Sigmar Polke record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Sigmar Polke on OpeningBid →What is a Sigmar Polke work worth?
Across 71 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sigmar Polke work is $24,072.
The median Sigmar Polke print sells for $1,000 across 26 lots.
The median Sigmar Polke work on paper sells for $110,016 across 22 lots.
The median Sigmar Polke photograph sells for $34,010 across 11 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 | 53 | $1,000‡ | $35,698 | 49.1% | 2026-02-28 |
| Paintings | 8 | $74,895 | $1.7M | 87.5% | 2006-10-17 |
| Works on Paper | 25 | $110,016 | $809,688 | 88% | 2020-10-21 |
| Photography | 12 | $34,010 | $275,211 | 91.7% | 2020-10-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 15 | $228,270 | $1.7M | — | 2020-10-21 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Sigmar Polke's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (53 lots) median $1,000 with 49.1% sell-through. Paintings (8 lots) median $74,895, record $1,682,568. A typical Sigmar Polke painting sells for around 75× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 15 lots) the median is $228,270.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $13–$348‡ | $42‡ | $35,698 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $800–$5,130‡ | $1,513‡ | $15,866 |
‡ 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) | 7 | $17,590–$31,766 | $24,768 | $355,762 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $46,551–$129,441 | $99,843 | $134,550 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $125,018–$323,813 | $176,081 | $809,688 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $30,597–$43,465 | $34,320 | $275,211 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2005 | $1.7M |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $809,688 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $522,752 |
| Photography | 2007 | $275,211 |
| Paintings | 2006 | $228,270 |
| Photography | 2016 | $68,896 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $35,698 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $15,866 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Sigmar Polke worth?
Across 71 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sigmar Polke work is $24,072. The median Sigmar Polke print sells for $1,000 across 26 lots. The median Sigmar Polke work on paper sells for $110,016 across 22 lots. The median Sigmar Polke photograph sells for $34,010 across 11 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 Sigmar Polke print?
Based on 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sigmar Polke print is $1,000. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Sigmar Polke's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Sigmar Polke print is $35,698.
What is the average price of a Sigmar Polke work on paper?
Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sigmar Polke work on paper is $110,016.
What is Sigmar Polke's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Sigmar Polke work on paper is $809,688.
What is the average price of a Sigmar Polke photograph?
Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sigmar Polke photograph is $34,010.
What is Sigmar Polke's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Sigmar Polke photograph is $275,211.
What is the average price of a medium Sigmar Polke print?
Based on 17 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Sigmar Polke print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,513, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Sigmar Polke's auction record?
Sigmar Polke's auction record is $1,682,568, set in 2005.
See the full Sigmar Polke record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Sigmar Polke on OpeningBid →