Tom Wesselmann (1931–2004)
Tom Wesselmann is an American artist with 414 auction lots recorded since 1997, median price $14,123. 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 Tom Wesselmann sold in 2025 for $22,714, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Tom Wesselmann record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Tom Wesselmann on OpeningBid →What is a Tom Wesselmann work worth?
Across 345 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tom Wesselmann work is $14,123.
The median Tom Wesselmann print sells for $8,549 across 183 lots.
The median Tom Wesselmann work on paper sells for $73,681 across 68 lots.
The median Tom Wesselmann painting sells for $311,985 across 27 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Tom Wesselmann prints typically sell for $2,741–$12,997 (the middle half of 97 sold lots).
Large (over 120 cm) Tom Wesselmann prints typically sell for $7,150–$26,217 (the middle half of 54 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 | 203 | $8,549†‡ | $159,958 | 90.1% | 2026-06-03 |
| Paintings | 29 | $311,985 | $2.4M | 93.1% | 2020-10-02 |
| Works on Paper | 77 | $73,681‡ | $1.7M | 88.3% | 2020-10-06 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 5 | $118,120 | $189,981 | — | 2012-06-28 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 61 | $255,676‡ | $2.4M | — | 2024-11-20 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Tom Wesselmann's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (203 lots) median $8,549 with 90.1% sell-through. Paintings (29 lots) median $311,985, record $2,434,732. A typical Tom Wesselmann painting sells for around 36× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 61 lots) the median is $255,676.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 25 | $5,250–$12,179‡ | $6,602‡ | $47,988 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 97 | $2,741–$12,997†‡ | $7,381†‡ | $76,668 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 54 | $7,150–$26,217†‡ | $15,805†‡ | $159,958 |
† 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) | 13 | $173,996–$498,691 | $250,800 | $1M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $154,890–$1.5M | $1M | $2.4M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 36 | $15,489–$110,746‡ | $46,027‡ | $589,606 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $18,619–$78,720 | $55,910 | $272,229 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 17 | $150,022–$607,774 | $275,097 | $1.7M |
‡ 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 | 2016 | $2.4M |
| Paintings | 2010 | $1.7M |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $1.7M |
| Works on Paper | 2005 | $1.4M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2006 | $189,981 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2012 | $179,154 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $159,958 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $76,668 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Tom Wesselmann worth?
Across 345 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tom Wesselmann work is $14,123. The median Tom Wesselmann print sells for $8,549 across 183 lots. The median Tom Wesselmann work on paper sells for $73,681 across 68 lots. The median Tom Wesselmann painting sells for $311,985 across 27 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Tom Wesselmann prints typically sell for $2,741–$12,997 (the middle half of 97 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Tom Wesselmann prints typically sell for $7,150–$26,217 (the middle half of 54 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 Tom Wesselmann print?
Based on 183 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Tom Wesselmann print is $8,549. 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 Tom Wesselmann's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Tom Wesselmann print is $159,958.
What is the average price of a Tom Wesselmann work on paper?
Based on 68 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Tom Wesselmann work on paper is $73,681. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Tom Wesselmann's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Tom Wesselmann work on paper is $1,739,282.
What is the average price of a Tom Wesselmann painting?
Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Tom Wesselmann painting is $311,985.
What is Tom Wesselmann's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Tom Wesselmann painting is $2,434,732.
What is the average price of a medium Tom Wesselmann print?
Based on 97 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Tom Wesselmann print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $7,381, 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 large Tom Wesselmann print?
Based on 54 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Tom Wesselmann print (large (over 120 cm)) is $15,805, 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 Tom Wesselmann's auction record?
Tom Wesselmann's auction record is $2,434,732, set in 2016.
See the full Tom Wesselmann record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Tom Wesselmann on OpeningBid →