Tony Oursler (b. 1957)
What is Tony Oursler’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 93 auction results for Tony Oursler at 23 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,621 including buyer’s premium (middle half $635–$16,770, n=5). The auction record is $181,269 for Troubler (2006, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Troubler, 1996 | Two dolls, wooden stand, VHS tape, player and projector | $181,269 | Christie's | Nov 2006 |
| 2 | Sogg, 2004 | Fiberglass sculpture, DVD, DVD player, Sony VPL-CS5 digital projector | $111,268 | Christie's | May 2010 |
| 3 | Soot, 2008 | Enamel paint on aluminium and LCD screen | $105,279 | Tajan | Apr 2014 |
| 4 | Time Is Nothing | — | $102,000 | Sotheby's | May 2007 |
| 5 | Inversion, 1996 | Two dolls, wooden stand, VHS tape, player and projector | $78,000 | Christie's | May 2006 |
| 6 | Revelation, 1996 | Mixed media installation | $74,500 | Christie's | May 2009 |
| 7 | Good/Bad, 1995 | Printed fabric, mattress and video projection | $72,850 | Christie's | May 2000 |
| 8 | Flame, 1998 | Fiberglass, candle, wax and DVD | $61,556 | Sotheby's | Dec 2023 |
| 9 | Freeking (with Julie Lorin), 1994 | One figure human scale with large head, cloth, VHS player and Optoma projector | $50,333 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| 10 | Sweet, 1996 | Sony CPJ100 projector, Samsung VCR, videotape, tripod, acrylic on fibreglass, Spherical diameter | $50,000 | Christie's | May 2010 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 49 | $21,389 |
| Sculpture | 5 | $17,500 |
| Works on paper | 15 | $1,750 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $24,021 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 22 | $12,523 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 29 | $1,750 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 93 results from 23 houses · How we compute these figures
Tony Oursler is an American artist with 142 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $12,847. 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 Tony Oursler sold in 2026 for $16,770, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Tony Oursler works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Tony Oursler free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Tony Oursler record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Tony Oursler on OpeningBid →What is a Tony Oursler work worth?
Across 91 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tony Oursler work is $12,847.
The median Tony Oursler work on paper sells for $1,643 across 16 lots.
The median Tony Oursler sculpture sells for $24,520 across 13 lots.
The median Tony Oursler photograph sells for $724 across 7 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 | 4 | $284† | $2,286 | 75% | 2024-10-22 |
| Paintings | 9 | $1,496† | $2,600 | 44.4% | 2022-03-09 |
| Works on Paper | 26 | $1,643‡ | $13,171 | 61.5% | 2025-11-27 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 18 | $24,520 | $111,268 | 72.2% | 2025-12-16 |
| Photography | 10 | $724† | $13,094 | 70% | 2025-09-11 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $105,279 | $181,269 | — | 2014-04-29 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Tony Oursler's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (4 lots) median $284 with 75% sell-through. Paintings (9 lots) median $1,496, record $2,600. A typical Tony Oursler painting sells for around 5.3× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $105,279.
Price by size
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $803–$1,694‡ | $976‡ | $6,300 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $2,125–$3,340 | $2,500 | $13,171 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $376–$945† | $504† | $1,247† |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2010 | $111,268 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2010 | $50,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $13,171 |
| Photography | 2010 | $13,094 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $6,300 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $2,600 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $2,286 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $1,992 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Tony Oursler worth?
Across 91 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tony Oursler work is $12,847. The median Tony Oursler work on paper sells for $1,643 across 16 lots. The median Tony Oursler sculpture sells for $24,520 across 13 lots. The median Tony Oursler photograph sells for $724 across 7 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 Tony Oursler work on paper?
Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Tony Oursler work on paper is $1,643. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Tony Oursler's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Tony Oursler work on paper is $13,171.
What is the average price of a Tony Oursler sculpture?
Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Tony Oursler sculpture is $24,520.
What is Tony Oursler's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Tony Oursler sculpture is $111,268.
What is the average price of a small Tony Oursler work on paper?
Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Tony Oursler work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $976, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Tony Oursler's auction record?
Tony Oursler's auction record is $181,269, set in 2006.
See the full Tony Oursler record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Tony Oursler on OpeningBid →