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

# 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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

---

Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Sigmar Polke auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/sigmar-polke (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.