Walter Williams (1920–1988)
What is Walter Williams’s work worth?
As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 157 auction results for Walter Williams at 25 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,636 including buyer’s premium (middle half $463–$3,750, n=16). The auction record is $125,000 for White Butterfly (2020, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Butterfly, 1969 | Oil on linen | $125,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jan 2020 |
| 2 | Untitled (Boy on a Porch), 1965 | Oil and sand on masonite | $93,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2017 |
| 3 | Southern Landscape, 1988 | Oil and collage on masonite board | $81,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2014 |
| 4 | Sunflower Girl, 1988 | Oil on linen canvas | $81,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2019 |
| 5 | Untitled (Seated Man with Bowed Head), 1988 | Oil on linen canvas | $72,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2018 |
| 6 | Untitled (Boy in a Field), 1956 | Oil and sand on masonite | $52,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2020 |
| 7 | Black Moth, 1988 | Oil on masonite board | $24,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2007 |
| 8 | Untitled (Boy in Field of Flowers), 1960 | Oil and collage on masonite | $21,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2013 |
| 9 | Working in the Field | — | $7,200 | Sotheby's | Jun 2007 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Madonna, 1988 | Woodcut on imitation Japan paper | $9,375 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 5 | $4,000 |
| Other | 7 | $3,840 |
| Paintings | 43 | $2,335 |
| Prints | 65 | $2,250 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 65 | $2,375 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 49 | $2,250 |
Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 157 results from 25 houses · How we compute these figures
Walter Williams is a British artist with 200 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $2,142. 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 Walter Williams sold in 2026 for $2,286, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Walter Williams record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Walter Williams on OpeningBid →What is a Walter Williams work worth?
Across 146 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Walter Williams work is $2,142.
The median Walter Williams print sells for $2,225 across 76 lots.
The median Walter Williams painting sells for $1,099 across 55 lots.
The median Walter Williams work on paper sells for $3,840 across 9 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Walter Williams prints typically sell for $1,485–$3,150 (the middle half of 44 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Walter Williams prints typically sell for $1,825–$3,188 (the middle half of 30 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 | 85 | $2,225†‡ | $9,375 | 89.4% | 2026-10-01 |
| Paintings | 72 | $1,099†‡ | $125,000 | 76.4% | 2026-07-29 |
| Works on Paper | 9 | $3,840† | $8,125† | — | 2022-11-19 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $76,875 | $125,000 | — | 2020-06-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Walter Williams's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (85 lots) median $2,225 with 89.4% sell-through. Paintings (72 lots) median $1,099, record $125,000. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 8 lots) the median is $76,875.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 30 | $1,825–$3,188† | $2,250† | $6,750 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 44 | $1,485–$3,150†‡ | $2,040†‡ | $9,375 |
† 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) | 26 | $355–$1,149†‡ | $619†‡ | $7,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 27 | $729–$22,625†‡ | $2,099†‡ | $125,000 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $1,560–$3,840 | $1,845 | $5,200 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2020 | $125,000 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $93,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $9,375 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $8,125† |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $6,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $5,500 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Walter Williams worth?
Across 146 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Walter Williams work is $2,142. The median Walter Williams print sells for $2,225 across 76 lots. The median Walter Williams painting sells for $1,099 across 55 lots. The median Walter Williams work on paper sells for $3,840 across 9 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Walter Williams prints typically sell for $1,485–$3,150 (the middle half of 44 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Walter Williams prints typically sell for $1,825–$3,188 (the middle half of 30 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 Walter Williams print?
Based on 76 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Walter Williams print is $2,225. 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 Walter Williams's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Walter Williams print is $9,375.
What is the average price of a Walter Williams painting?
Based on 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Walter Williams painting is $1,099. 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 Walter Williams's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Walter Williams painting is $125,000.
What is the average price of a medium Walter Williams print?
Based on 44 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Walter Williams print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,040, 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 Walter Williams print?
Based on 30 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Walter Williams print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,250, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Walter Williams's auction record?
Walter Williams's auction record is $125,000, set in 2020.
See the full Walter Williams record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Walter Williams on OpeningBid →