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

# Tom Wesselmann (1931–2004)

## What is Tom Wesselmann’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,992 auction results for Tom Wesselmann at 89 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $12,065 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,400–$38,700, n=257). The auction record is $10,681,000 for Great American Nude No. 48 (2008, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great American Nude No. 48 | — | $10,681,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 2 | Smoker # 17 | Oil on shaped canvas | $5,864,000 | Sotheby's | May 2007 |
| 3 | Great American Nude #21 | Oil and collage on board | $4,114,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2008 |
| 4 | Bedroom Painting #1 | Oil on shaped canvas | $4,103,315 | Sotheby's | Jul 2008 |
| 5 | Still Life #16, 1962 | Enamel and polymer on masonite with fabric and printed paper collage | $3,624,000 | Sotheby's | May 2007 |
| 6 | Great American Nude # 21, 1961 | Wool | $3,330,500 | Christie's | May 2011 |
| 7 | Mouth #14 (Marilyn), 1967 | Oil paint | $3,236,500 | Phillips | Nov 2022 |
| 8 | Bedroom Painting #37, 1977 | Oil paint | $3,218,500 | Christie's | Nov 2008 |
| 9 | Great American Nude #34, 1962 | Wool | $3,196,250 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 10 | Great American Nude #73, 1965 | Acrylic paint | $3,166,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 204 | $251,716 |
| Sculpture | 59 | $98,500 |
| Works on paper | 247 | $35,000 |
| Other | 445 | $26,250 |
| Prints | 669 | $7,881 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 593 | $22,860 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 373 | $21,250 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 495 | $8,092 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,992 results from 89 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Tom Wesselmann is an American artist with 2,439 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $12,500. 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 2026 for $30,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**14 Tom Wesselmann works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Tom Wesselmann on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/tom-wesselmann?ref=kg:tom-wesselmann) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Tom Wesselmann work worth?

Across 1,979 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tom Wesselmann work is $12,500.

The median Tom Wesselmann print sells for $7,278 across 856 lots.

The median Tom Wesselmann work on paper sells for $35,343 across 377 lots.

The median Tom Wesselmann painting sells for $173,950 across 203 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Tom Wesselmann prints typically sell for $4,079–$9,375 (the middle half of 468 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Tom Wesselmann work on papers typically sell for $13,277–$50,175 (the middle half of 281 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 | 965 | $7,278†‡ | $178,863 | 88.7% | 2026-10-27 |
| Paintings | 226 | $173,950†‡ | $3.2M | 89.8% | 2026-10-01 |
| Works on Paper | 437 | $35,343†‡ | $3.3M | 86.3% | 2026-10-07 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 89 | $100,000†‡ | $2M | 91% | 2026-10-22 |
| Photography | 1 | $35,162 | $35,162 | — | 2025-06-05 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 319 | $260,856†‡ | $10.7M | — | 2026-10-01 |

† 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 (965 lots) median $7,278 with 88.7% sell-through. Paintings (226 lots) median $173,950, record $3,236,500. A typical Tom Wesselmann painting sells for around 24× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 319 lots) the median is $260,856.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 138 | $2,406–$8,461†‡ | $5,476†‡ | $87,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 468 | $4,079–$9,375†‡ | $6,494†‡ | $178,863 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 212 | $7,710–$15,335†‡ | $10,632†‡ | $38,100 |

† 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) | 102 | $54,654–$150,533†‡ | $97,098†‡ | $552,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $63,414–$454,292‡ | $226,800‡ | $965,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 69 | $293,866–$1.2M‡ | $701,818‡ | $3.2M |

† 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) | 281 | $13,277–$50,175†‡ | $28,750†‡ | $355,600 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 49 | $12,320–$150,000†‡ | $53,550†‡ | $957,750 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 35 | $155,440–$498,386‡ | $259,464‡ | $3.3M |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 18 | $15,827–$23,489†‡ | $18,742†‡ | $56,700 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 25 | $37,500–$127,000 | $75,000 | $292,100 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 36 | $113,142–$312,572 | $209,529 | $2M |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $3.3M |
| Paintings | 2022 | $3.2M |
| Paintings | 2008 | $3.2M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2016 | $2M |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $1.2M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $952,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $178,863 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $138,600 |

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 Tom Wesselmann worth?

Across 1,979 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tom Wesselmann work is $12,500. The median Tom Wesselmann print sells for $7,278 across 856 lots. The median Tom Wesselmann work on paper sells for $35,343 across 377 lots. The median Tom Wesselmann painting sells for $173,950 across 203 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Tom Wesselmann prints typically sell for $4,079–$9,375 (the middle half of 468 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Tom Wesselmann work on papers typically sell for $13,277–$50,175 (the middle half of 281 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 856 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Tom Wesselmann print is $7,278. 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 $178,863.

### What is the average price of a Tom Wesselmann work on paper?

Based on 377 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Tom Wesselmann work on paper is $35,343. 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 work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Tom Wesselmann work on paper is $3,330,500.

### What is the average price of a Tom Wesselmann painting?

Based on 203 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Tom Wesselmann painting is $173,950. 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 painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Tom Wesselmann painting is $3,236,500.

### What is the average price of a medium Tom Wesselmann print?

Based on 468 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Tom Wesselmann print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $6,494, 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 Tom Wesselmann work on paper?

Based on 281 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Tom Wesselmann work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $28,750, 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 $10,681,000, set in 2008.

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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, “Tom Wesselmann auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/tom-wesselmann (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.