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

# Vija Celmins (b. 1938)

## What is Vija Celmins’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 323 auction results for Vija Celmins at 19 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $12,900 including buyer’s premium (middle half $7,680–$31,875, n=37). The auction record is $7,748,000 for Untitled (Ocean) (2021, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled (Ocean), 1987 | Oil paint | $7,748,000 | Phillips | Jun 2021 |
| 2 | Lead Sea #2, 1969 | Graphite | $4,212,500 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 3 | Web #10, 2006 | Charcoal | $3,075,000 | Christie's | May 2024 |
| 4 | Untitled (Ocean), 1968 | Graphite | $3,030,000 | Christie's | Oct 2020 |
| 5 | Untitled (Night Sky #7), 1995 | Charcoal | $3,015,000 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 6 | Untitled (graphite on acrylic ground on paper), 1969 | Graphite | $2,890,000 | Phillips | Nov 2016 |
| 7 | Star Field I, 1981 | Graphite | $2,412,500 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 8 | Night Sky #14, 1996-1997 | Oil paint | $2,405,000 | Christie's | Nov 2013 |
| 9 | Night Sky #3, 1991 | Oil paint | $2,405,000 | Phillips | May 2014 |
| 10 | Untitled (Divided Rectangle), 1986 | Oil paint | $2,228,000 | Christie's | May 2023 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 9 | $1,925,500 |
| Works on paper | 52 | $15,000 |
| Prints | 215 | $11,875 |
| Other | 42 | $8,750 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 85 | $22,680 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 221 | $10,080 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 323 results from 19 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Vija Celmins is an American artist with 349 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $11,610. 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 Vija Celmins sold in 2026 for $21,760, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**3 Vija Celmins works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Vija Celmins on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/vija-celmins?ref=kg:vija-celmins) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Vija Celmins work worth?

Across 323 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Vija Celmins work is $11,610.

The median Vija Celmins print sells for $10,160 across 267 lots.

The median Vija Celmins work on paper sells for $1,260,000 across 19 lots.

The median Vija Celmins painting sells for $587,500 across 9 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Vija Celmins prints typically sell for $6,000–$16,510 (the middle half of 193 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Vija Celmins prints typically sell for $9,469–$31,406 (the middle half of 72 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 | 277 | $10,160‡ | $151,200 | 96.4% | 2026-10-14 |
| Paintings | 10 | $587,500 | $7.7M | 90% | 2024-03-07 |
| Works on Paper | 19 | $1.3M | $4.2M | — | 2024-05-14 |
| Photography | 8 | $6,688† | $20,154† | — | 2026-02-26 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 30 | $1.2M | $7.7M | — | 2024-10-25 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Vija Celmins's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (277 lots) median $10,160 with 96.4% sell-through. Paintings (10 lots) median $587,500, record $7,748,000. A typical Vija Celmins painting sells for around 58× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 30 lots) the median is $1,201,250.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 193 | $6,000–$16,510‡ | $9,375‡ | $106,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 72 | $9,469–$31,406 | $17,576 | $151,200 |

‡ 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) | 6 | $343,680–$1.8M | $559,375 | $7.7M |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $778,832–$1.6M | $1.1M | $3M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $1M–$3M | $1.8M | $4.2M |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $4,732–$12,288 | $6,300 | $20,000 |

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2021 | $7.7M |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $4.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $3.1M |
| Paintings | 2013 | $2.4M |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $151,200 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $106,250 |
| Photography | 2018 | $20,154† |
| Photography | 2018 | $20,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Vija Celmins worth?

Across 323 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Vija Celmins work is $11,610. The median Vija Celmins print sells for $10,160 across 267 lots. The median Vija Celmins work on paper sells for $1,260,000 across 19 lots. The median Vija Celmins painting sells for $587,500 across 9 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Vija Celmins prints typically sell for $6,000–$16,510 (the middle half of 193 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Vija Celmins prints typically sell for $9,469–$31,406 (the middle half of 72 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 Vija Celmins print?

Based on 267 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Vija Celmins print is $10,160. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Vija Celmins's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Vija Celmins print is $151,200.

### What is the average price of a Vija Celmins work on paper?

Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Vija Celmins work on paper is $1,260,000.

### What is Vija Celmins's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Vija Celmins work on paper is $4,212,500.

### What is the average price of a small Vija Celmins print?

Based on 193 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Vija Celmins print (small (under 50 cm)) is $9,375, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a medium Vija Celmins print?

Based on 72 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Vija Celmins print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $17,576, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Vija Celmins's auction record?

Vija Celmins's auction record is $7,748,000, set in 2021.

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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, “Vija Celmins auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/vija-celmins (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.