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

# Stanley Whitney (b. 1946)

## What is Stanley Whitney’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 219 auction results for Stanley Whitney at 17 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $30,240 including buyer’s premium (middle half $8,890–$55,880, n=41). The auction record is $1,986,084 for Great Balls of Fire (2022, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Balls of Fire, 2005 | Painting | $1,986,084 | Christie's | Mar 2022 |
| 2 | Parisian Blue, 2012 | Oil on linen | $1,623,000 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 3 | A Brief History, 2018 | Painting | $1,609,664 | Sotheby's | Apr 2022 |
| 4 | 無題 (油彩亞麻布), 1997 | Oil on linen | $1,298,499 | Sotheby's | Mar 2023 |
| 5 | SunRa, 2016 | Oil on canvas | $1,280,899 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 6 | Untitled (oil on linen), 1999 | Painting | $1,230,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 7 | The Wild West, 2013 | Oil on canvas | $1,102,290 | Sotheby's | Jun 2022 |
| 8 | IDA Red Dressed in Green, 2020 | Painting | $1,071,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 9 | Memory Garden, 2020 | Painting | $794,313 | Christie's | Oct 2022 |
| 10 | Bob’s Smile, 2009 | Painting | $762,815 | Christie's | Feb 2023 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 93 | $241,863 |
| Works on paper | 31 | $27,720 |
| Prints | 54 | $9,861 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 49 | $491,716 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 65 | $35,560 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 62 | $35,280 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 219 results from 17 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Stanley Whitney is an American artist with 247 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $48,628. 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 Stanley Whitney sold in 2026 for $491,716, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Stanley Whitney work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Stanley Whitney on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/stanley-whitney?ref=kg:stanley-whitney) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Stanley Whitney work worth?

Across 219 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Stanley Whitney work is $48,628.

The median Stanley Whitney painting sells for $203,700 across 103 lots.

The median Stanley Whitney print sells for $10,000 across 76 lots.

The median Stanley Whitney work on paper sells for $25,800 across 34 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Stanley Whitney prints typically sell for $7,887–$15,007 (the middle half of 43 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Stanley Whitney paintings typically sell for $51,591–$107,339 (the middle half of 42 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 | 85 | $10,000†‡ | $106,478 | 89.4% | 2026-10-20 |
| Paintings | 110 | $203,700†‡ | $2M | 93.6% | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 35 | $25,800†‡ | $86,142 | 97.1% | 2026-09-26 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 74 | $362,254†‡ | $2M | — | 2026-10-15 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Stanley Whitney's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (85 lots) median $10,000 with 89.4% sell-through. Paintings (110 lots) median $203,700, record $1,986,084. A typical Stanley Whitney painting sells for around 20× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 74 lots) the median is $362,254.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 43 | $7,887–$15,007†‡ | $10,625†‡ | $34,604‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 26 | $3,660–$10,938†‡ | $8,155†‡ | $50,400 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $41,488–$71,088 | $56,942 | $106,478 |

† 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) | 42 | $51,591–$107,339†‡ | $74,886†‡ | $218,345 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 19 | $137,986–$325,883 | $241,863 | $693,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 42 | $363,700–$761,981‡ | $568,140‡ | $2M |

† 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) | 6 | $12,078–$25,659 | $16,615 | $30,240 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 25 | $16,510–$49,020†‡ | $25,800†‡ | $69,300 |

† 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 | 2022 | $2M |
| Paintings | 2022 | $1.6M |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $106,478 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $86,142 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $75,600 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $71,500 |

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 Stanley Whitney worth?

Across 219 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Stanley Whitney work is $48,628. The median Stanley Whitney painting sells for $203,700 across 103 lots. The median Stanley Whitney print sells for $10,000 across 76 lots. The median Stanley Whitney work on paper sells for $25,800 across 34 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Stanley Whitney prints typically sell for $7,887–$15,007 (the middle half of 43 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Stanley Whitney paintings typically sell for $51,591–$107,339 (the middle half of 42 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 Stanley Whitney painting?

Based on 103 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Stanley Whitney painting is $203,700. 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 Stanley Whitney's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Stanley Whitney painting is $1,986,084.

### What is the average price of a Stanley Whitney print?

Based on 76 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Stanley Whitney print is $10,000. 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 Stanley Whitney's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Stanley Whitney print is $106,478.

### What is the average price of a Stanley Whitney work on paper?

Based on 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Stanley Whitney work on paper is $25,800. 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 Stanley Whitney's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Stanley Whitney work on paper is $86,142.

### What is the average price of a small Stanley Whitney print?

Based on 43 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Stanley Whitney print (small (under 50 cm)) is $10,625, 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 Stanley Whitney painting?

Based on 42 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Stanley Whitney painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $74,886, 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 Stanley Whitney's auction record?

Stanley Whitney's auction record is $1,986,084, set in 2022.

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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, “Stanley Whitney auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/stanley-whitney (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.