> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/tiger-palpatja · updated 2026-11-03

# Tiger Palpatja (b. 1920)

## What is Tiger Palpatja’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 23 auction results for Tiger Palpatja at 5 houses since 2009. Over the last 24 months the median price was $424 including buyer’s premium (middle half $254–$847, n=5). The auction record is $44,450 for Wanampi Tjukurpa, The Mythical Rainbow Snake Creation Story (2025, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wanampi Tjukurpa, The Mythical Rainbow Snake Creation Story, 1920 | Acrylic on linen | $44,450 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 2 | PILTATI TJUKURPA, 2010 | Synthetic polymer paint on canvas | $5,725 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2017 |
| 3 | PILTATI TJUKURPA, 2010 | Synthetic polymer paint on canvas | $5,341 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2017 |
| 4 | Untitled, 2005 | Synthetic polymer paint on linen | $3,938 | Deutscher and Hackett | Oct 2009 |
| 5 | PILTATI, 2011 | Synthetic polymer paint on canvas | $2,584 | Deutscher and Hackett | May 2016 |
| 6 | WANAMPI TJUKURPA, 2008 | Synthetic polymer paint on linen | $2,584 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2016 |
| 7 | NGINTAKA TUKURPA – PERENTIE MAN CREATION STORY, 2008 | Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen bears inscription verso: artist's name and Tjala Arts cat. 508-08 and Alcaston Gallery cat. AK15024 | $1,605 | Deutscher and Hackett | May 2020 |
| 8 | CREATION STORY, 1920 | Synthetic polymer paint on linen | $847 | Deutscher and Hackett | Jun 2026 |
| 9 | Creation Story, 2006 | Synthetic polymer paint on linen | $424 | Deutscher and Hackett | Jun 2026 |
| 10 | ROCKHOLE AND MAI TJUTA, 1920 | Synthetic polymer paint on linen | $254 | Deutscher and Hackett | Jun 2026 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 11 | $2,584 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $2,584 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 23 results from 5 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Tiger Palpatja is an artist with 35 auction lots recorded since 2009, median price $1,391. 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 Tiger Palpatja is recorded as sold in 2026 for $9,917; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Tiger Palpatja work worth?

Across 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tiger Palpatja work is $1,391.

The median Tiger Palpatja painting sells for $1,391 across 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 24 | $1,391†‡ | $44,450 | 75% | 2026-06-17 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $255–$2,034‡ | $320‡ | $3,938 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $1,112–$3,979†‡ | $1,868†‡ | $44,450 |

† 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 | 2025 | $44,450 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $5,725 |

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 Tiger Palpatja worth?

Across 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tiger Palpatja work is $1,391. The median Tiger Palpatja painting sells for $1,391 across 18 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 Tiger Palpatja painting?

Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Tiger Palpatja painting is $1,391. 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 Tiger Palpatja's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Tiger Palpatja painting is $44,450.

### What is the average price of a large Tiger Palpatja painting?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Tiger Palpatja painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $1,868, 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 Tiger Palpatja's auction record?

Tiger Palpatja's auction record is $44,450, set in 2025.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Tiger Palpatja auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/tiger-palpatja (updated 2026-11-03).

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.