Sidney Nolan (1917–1992)
Sidney Nolan is an Australian artist with 268 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $4,664. 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 2020 for $16,432, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
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 177 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sidney Nolan work is $4,664.
The median Sidney Nolan print sells for $932 across 70 lots.
The median Sidney Nolan work on paper sells for $6,006 across 69 lots.
The median Sidney Nolan painting sells for $12,299 across 31 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Sidney Nolan prints typically sell for $370–$3,602 (the middle half of 62 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Sidney Nolan work on papers typically sell for $4,163–$10,182 (the middle half of 43 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 | 95 | $932†‡ | $20,815 | 73.7% | 2026-03-18 |
| Paintings | 41 | $12,299† | $217,612 | 75.6% | 2024-09-11 |
| Works on Paper | 83 | $6,006†‡ | $226,305 | 83.1% | 2025-12-11 |
| Photography | 31 | $1,745† | $11,022 | 74.2% | 2023-08-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 11 | $64,658 | $226,305 | — | 2005-08-22 |
† 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 (95 lots) median $932 with 73.7% sell-through. Paintings (41 lots) median $12,299, record $217,612. A typical Sidney Nolan painting sells for around 13× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 11 lots) the median is $64,658.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $362–$1,113†‡ | $472†‡ | $1,724 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 62 | $370–$3,602†‡ | $932†‡ | $20,815 |
† 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 | $4,260–$10,237 | $6,373 | $23,708 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $5,731–$68,363† | $23,538† | $183,199 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $30,046–$91,070† | $37,986† | $217,612 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 43 | $4,163–$10,182†‡ | $5,519†‡ | $38,795 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $5,519–$17,868‡ | $9,199‡ | $226,305 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 22 | $1,328–$2,939† | $1,745† | $11,022 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2005 | $226,305 |
| Paintings | 2003 | $217,612 |
| Paintings | 2005 | $193,975 |
| Works on Paper | 2005 | $38,795 |
| Prints & Editions | 2003 | $20,815 |
| Prints & Editions | 2003 | $17,976 |
| Photography | 2003 | $11,022 |
| Photography | 2003 | $9,185 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Sidney Nolan worth?
Across 177 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sidney Nolan work is $4,664. The median Sidney Nolan print sells for $932 across 70 lots. The median Sidney Nolan work on paper sells for $6,006 across 69 lots. The median Sidney Nolan painting sells for $12,299 across 31 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Sidney Nolan prints typically sell for $370–$3,602 (the middle half of 62 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Sidney Nolan work on papers typically sell for $4,163–$10,182 (the middle half of 43 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 print?
Based on 70 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sidney Nolan print is $932. 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 $20,815.
What is the average price of a Sidney Nolan work on paper?
Based on 69 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sidney Nolan work on paper is $6,006. 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 $226,305.
What is the average price of a Sidney Nolan painting?
Based on 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sidney Nolan painting is $12,299. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Sidney Nolan's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Sidney Nolan painting is $217,612.
What is the average price of a medium Sidney Nolan print?
Based on 62 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Sidney Nolan print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $932, 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 small Sidney Nolan work on paper?
Based on 43 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Sidney Nolan work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,519, 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 Sidney Nolan's auction record?
Sidney Nolan's auction record is $226,305, set in 2005.
See the full Sidney Nolan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Sidney Nolan on OpeningBid →