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

# Sigmar Polke (1941–2010)

## What is Sigmar Polke’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,085 auction results for Sigmar Polke at 46 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $27,485 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,802–$108,534, n=51). The auction record is $17,047,500 for Frau mit Butterbrot (2017, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frau mit Butterbrot, 1964 | Oil paint | $17,047,500 | Christie's | May 2017 |
| 2 | Familie II, 1966 | Painting | $8,565,000 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| 3 | Stadtbild II (City Painting II), 1968 | Painting | $8,000,000 | Christie's | May 2021 |
| 4 | Alpenveilchen/Flowers, 1967 | Painting | $6,971,536 | Christie's | Oct 2019 |
| 5 | Plastik-Wannen [Plastic Tubs], 1964 | Oil paint | $6,184,400 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |
| 6 | Mondlandschaft mit Schilf (Moonlit landscape with reeds), 1969 | Dispersion on two different types of fabric | $6,119,034 | Christie's | Jun 2015 |
| 7 | The Copyist | Lacquer | $6,069,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |
| 8 | Alpenveilchen, 1967 | Painting | $5,319,000 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 9 | Strand, 1966 | Painting | $5,304,531 | Christie's | Feb 2007 |
| 10 | Tänzerin, 1994 | Acrylic paint | $4,405,079 | Phillips | Oct 2017 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 136 | $257,703 |
| Other | 133 | $145,500 |
| Works on paper | 149 | $51,939 |
| Photographs | 57 | $19,742 |
| Prints | 185 | $2,923 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 105 | $771,850 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 376 | $30,174 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 143 | $11,966 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,085 results from 46 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Sigmar Polke is a German artist with 1,474 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $11,532. 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 2026 for $67,823, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**4 Sigmar Polke works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Sigmar Polke on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/sigmar-polke?ref=kg:sigmar-polke) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Sigmar Polke work worth?

Across 1,075 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sigmar Polke work is $11,532.

The median Sigmar Polke print sells for $1,650 across 392 lots.

The median Sigmar Polke work on paper sells for $53,276 across 203 lots.

The median Sigmar Polke painting sells for $120,650 across 144 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Sigmar Polke prints typically sell for $995–$4,310 (the middle half of 293 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Sigmar Polke work on papers typically sell for $39,281–$115,498 (the middle half of 114 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 | 529 | $1,650†‡ | $989,137 | 74.1% | 2026-08-06 |
| Paintings | 161 | $120,650‡ | $17M | 89.4% | 2026-06-25 |
| Works on Paper | 251 | $53,276†‡ | $4.4M | 80.9% | 2026-10-15 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 28 | $383,228 | $3.8M | 92.9% | 2024-10-17 |
| Photography | 114 | $12,251†‡ | $473,440 | 77.2% | 2025-12-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 236 | $385,880†‡ | $17M | — | 2026-10-14 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Sigmar Polke's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (529 lots) median $1,650 with 74.1% sell-through. Paintings (161 lots) median $120,650, record $17,047,500. A typical Sigmar Polke painting sells for around 73× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 236 lots) the median is $385,880.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 85 | $561–$5,336†‡ | $1,211†‡ | $341,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 293 | $995–$4,310†‡ | $1,867†‡ | $120,863 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $9,090–$11,566‡ | $11,234‡ | $989,137 |

† 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) | 15 | $27,912–$88,875‡ | $36,297‡ | $1.5M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 85 | $53,842–$320,000‡ | $84,226‡ | $8.6M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 39 | $467,212–$2.4M‡ | $1.2M‡ | $17M |

‡ 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) | 63 | $7,303–$22,210†‡ | $11,102†‡ | $167,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 114 | $39,281–$115,498†‡ | $71,956†‡ | $1.4M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 16 | $290,081–$903,250‡ | $521,893‡ | $4.4M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $88,245–$273,823 | $113,679 | $637,845 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 17 | $290,765–$950,000 | $490,000 | $3.8M |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 46 | $3,545–$12,305†‡ | $5,927†‡ | $75,600 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 35 | $12,483–$92,138‡ | $22,738‡ | $473,440 |

† 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 | 2017 | $17M |
| Paintings | 2014 | $8.6M |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $4.4M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $3.8M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2016 | $3.4M |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $2.2M |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $989,137 |
| Photography | 2018 | $473,440 |

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 1,075 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sigmar Polke work is $11,532. The median Sigmar Polke print sells for $1,650 across 392 lots. The median Sigmar Polke work on paper sells for $53,276 across 203 lots. The median Sigmar Polke painting sells for $120,650 across 144 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Sigmar Polke prints typically sell for $995–$4,310 (the middle half of 293 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Sigmar Polke work on papers typically sell for $39,281–$115,498 (the middle half of 114 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 Sigmar Polke print?

Based on 392 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sigmar Polke print is $1,650. 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 Sigmar Polke's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Sigmar Polke print is $989,137.

### What is the average price of a Sigmar Polke work on paper?

Based on 203 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sigmar Polke work on paper is $53,276. 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 Sigmar Polke's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Sigmar Polke work on paper is $4,357,482.

### What is the average price of a Sigmar Polke painting?

Based on 144 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sigmar Polke painting is $120,650. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Sigmar Polke's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Sigmar Polke painting is $17,047,500.

### What is the average price of a medium Sigmar Polke print?

Based on 293 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Sigmar Polke print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,867, 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 Sigmar Polke work on paper?

Based on 114 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Sigmar Polke work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $71,956, 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 Sigmar Polke's auction record?

Sigmar Polke's auction record is $17,047,500, set in 2017.

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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, “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.