Wayne Thiebaud (1920–2021)
What is Wayne Thiebaud’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 941 auction results for Wayne Thiebaud at 34 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $12,065 including buyer’s premium (middle half $5,040–$35,280, n=113). The auction record is $14,697,000 for Candy Counter (2023, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Candy Counter, 1969 | Oil on canvas | $14,697,000 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 2 | Star Pinball, 1962 | Oil paint | $11,335,000 | Christie's | May 2024 |
| 3 | Encased Cakes | Painted | $10,089,389 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Jul 2022 |
| 4 | Winding River, 2002 | Acrylic paint | $9,809,000 | Phillips | Jun 2021 |
| 5 | Dessert Table, 1996 | Oil paint | $9,380,000 | Christie's | Nov 2023 |
| 6 | Toweling Off, 1968 | Oil paint | $8,489,500 | Christie's | May 2021 |
| 7 | Two Jackpots, 2005 | Oil paint | $6,325,000 | Christie's | Nov 2013 |
| 8 | Café Cart, 2012 | Oil paint | $6,060,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 9 | Eating Figures (Quick Snack), 1963 | Oil paint | $5,269,000 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 10 | Three Ice Cream Cones, 1964 | Oil paint | $4,980,000 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 153 | $1,142,500 |
| Works on paper | 151 | $35,000 |
| Other | 41 | $17,780 |
| Prints | 556 | $8,750 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 33 | $2,405,000 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 360 | $13,163 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 483 | $13,125 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 941 results from 34 houses · How we compute these figures
Wayne Thiebaud is an American artist with 1,085 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $14,190. 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 Wayne Thiebaud sold in 2026 for $26,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
15 Wayne Thiebaud works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Wayne Thiebaud free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Wayne Thiebaud record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Wayne Thiebaud on OpeningBid →What is a Wayne Thiebaud work worth?
Across 935 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wayne Thiebaud work is $14,190.
The median Wayne Thiebaud print sells for $8,750 across 609 lots.
The median Wayne Thiebaud painting sells for $1,081,000 across 158 lots.
The median Wayne Thiebaud work on paper sells for $105,000 across 116 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Wayne Thiebaud prints typically sell for $5,080–$20,000 (the middle half of 325 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Wayne Thiebaud prints typically sell for $5,250–$19,562 (the middle half of 267 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 | 664 | $8,750†‡ | $453,600 | 91.7% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 177 | $1.1M | $14.7M | 89.3% | 2026-10-01 |
| Works on Paper | 128 | $105,000 | $1.9M | 90.6% | 2026-09-26 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $518 | $518 | — | 2009-12-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 223 | $725,000 | $14.7M | — | 2026-10-01 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Wayne Thiebaud's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (664 lots) median $8,750 with 91.7% sell-through. Paintings (177 lots) median $1,081,000, record $14,697,000. A typical Wayne Thiebaud painting sells for around 124× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 223 lots) the median is $725,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 325 | $5,080–$20,000†‡ | $8,750†‡ | $396,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 267 | $5,250–$19,562†‡ | $8,750†‡ | $453,600 |
† 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) | 67 | $362,500–$1.6M | $701,900 | $5M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 59 | $462,750–$2.1M | $1.1M | $8.5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 28 | $1.1M–$4.6M | $3M | $14.7M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 76 | $29,375–$350,500 | $100,000 | $1M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 37 | $16,405–$375,000 | $112,500 | $1.7M |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2023 | $14.7M |
| Paintings | 2024 | $11.3M |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $1.9M |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $1.7M |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $453,600 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $396,500 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2009 | $518 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Wayne Thiebaud worth?
Across 935 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wayne Thiebaud work is $14,190. The median Wayne Thiebaud print sells for $8,750 across 609 lots. The median Wayne Thiebaud painting sells for $1,081,000 across 158 lots. The median Wayne Thiebaud work on paper sells for $105,000 across 116 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Wayne Thiebaud prints typically sell for $5,080–$20,000 (the middle half of 325 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Wayne Thiebaud prints typically sell for $5,250–$19,562 (the middle half of 267 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 Wayne Thiebaud print?
Based on 609 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wayne Thiebaud print is $8,750. 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 Wayne Thiebaud's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wayne Thiebaud print is $453,600.
What is the average price of a Wayne Thiebaud painting?
Based on 158 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wayne Thiebaud painting is $1,081,000.
What is Wayne Thiebaud's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wayne Thiebaud painting is $14,697,000.
What is the average price of a Wayne Thiebaud work on paper?
Based on 116 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wayne Thiebaud work on paper is $105,000.
What is Wayne Thiebaud's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wayne Thiebaud work on paper is $1,902,500.
What is the average price of a small Wayne Thiebaud print?
Based on 325 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Wayne Thiebaud print (small (under 50 cm)) is $8,750, 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 the average price of a medium Wayne Thiebaud print?
Based on 267 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Wayne Thiebaud print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,750, 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 Wayne Thiebaud's auction record?
Wayne Thiebaud's auction record is $14,697,000, set in 2023.
See the full Wayne Thiebaud record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Wayne Thiebaud on OpeningBid →