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

# Violet Petyarre (b. 1945)

## What is Violet Petyarre’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 18 auction results for Violet Petyarre at 4 houses since 2011. Over the last 24 months the median price was $405 including buyer’s premium (middle half $279–$583, n=8). The auction record is $1,924 for Mountain Devil Lizard (2026, Lawsons Auctioneers). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain Devil Lizard, 2003 | Acrylic on canvas | $1,924 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jul 2026 |
| 2 | Awelye Body Painting, 1945 | Acrylic on belgium linen | $929 | Shapiro Auctioneers | Jun 2015 |
| 3 | Arnkerrthe (Mountain Devil Lizard), 2004 | Acrylic on linen | $908 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Oct 2024 |
| 4 | Body Paint, 2009 | Acrylic on linen | $787 | Lawsons Auctioneers | May 2024 |
| 5 | Body Paint, 2013 | Acrylic on canvas | $746 | Lawsons Auctioneers | May 2024 |
| 6 | Awelye | Acrylic on canvas | $606 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jan 2026 |
| 7 | Body Paint, 2007 | Acrylic on canvas | $575 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jul 2025 |
| 8 | Women's Ceremonial Body Paint, 2005 | Acrylic on canvas | $420 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jan 2026 |
| 9 | Women's Ceremonial Body Paint, 2005 | Acrylic on canvas | $389 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Oct 2025 |
| 10 | Women's Ceremonial Body Paint, 2005 | Acrylic on canvas | $294 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jan 2025 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 12 | $590 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 9 | $575 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 18 results from 4 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Violet Petyarre is an Australia (Aboriginal) artist with 24 auction lots recorded since 2005, median price $476. 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 Violet Petyarre sold in 2026 for $1,924, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Violet Petyarre work worth?

Across 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Violet Petyarre work is $476.

The median Violet Petyarre painting sells for $590 across 16 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 | 28 | $590† | $1,924 | 57.1% | 2026-07-27 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $318–$711† | $497† | $908 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $649–$929† | $654† | $1,924 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2026 | $1,924 |
| Paintings | 2015 | $929 |

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 Violet Petyarre worth?

Across 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Violet Petyarre work is $476. The median Violet Petyarre painting sells for $590 across 16 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 Violet Petyarre painting?

Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Violet Petyarre painting is $590. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Violet Petyarre's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Violet Petyarre painting is $1,924.

### What is the average price of a medium Violet Petyarre painting?

Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Violet Petyarre painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $497, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Violet Petyarre's auction record?

Violet Petyarre's auction record is $929, set in 2015.

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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, “Violet Petyarre auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/violet-petyarre (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.