Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912–2004)
What is Wilhelmina Barns-Graham’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 131 auction results for Wilhelmina Barns-Graham at 15 houses since 2005. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,230 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,486–$7,396, n=28). The auction record is $170,481 for composition II (2008, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | composition II | — | $170,481 | Sotheby's | Mar 2008 |
| 2 | Glacier (Bone) | Oil and pencil on board | $132,051 | Sotheby's | Nov 2016 |
| 3 | Pink, 1912 | Oil paint | $80,202 | Christie's | Nov 2005 |
| 4 | View of the Coast from Zennor, St Ives | Oil on canvas | $79,122 | Sotheby's | Nov 2016 |
| 5 | Coastal Study | — | $40,211 | Sotheby's | Dec 2007 |
| 6 | Variations on a Theme (Splintered Ice No. 2), 1987 | Oil paint | $37,966 | Christie's | Oct 2021 |
| 7 | St Ives, The Island, from Barnoon | — | $37,761 | Sotheby's | Dec 2007 |
| 8 | BLACK AND WHITE, 1954 | <p>initialled and dated (lower right), further signed, dated and inscribed <i>BLACK + WHITE 1954 / 45 GNS / W Barns Graham </i>to Artist's label (to reverse), oil and pastel on canvas</p> | $25,734 | Lyon & Turnbull | May 2026 |
| 9 | BLACK, WHITE & YELLOW, 1957, 1957 | <p>signed and dated (lower left), further signed, titled and dated to stretcher (to reverse), oil on canvas</p> | $25,734 | Lyon & Turnbull | May 2026 |
| 10 | Chelsea Old Church (After the Raid), 1942 | Oil on canvas | $25,225 | Lyon & Turnbull | Apr 2024 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 27 | $8,614 |
| Works on paper | 21 | $6,286 |
| Other | 25 | $6,125 |
| Prints | 46 | $1,534 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 61 | $3,094 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 47 | $2,586 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 131 results from 15 houses · How we compute these figures
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham is a British (modern) artist with 150 auction lots recorded since 2005, median price $3,040. 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 Wilhelmina Barns-Graham sold in 2026 for $12,005, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Wilhelmina Barns-Graham record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Wilhelmina Barns-Graham on OpeningBid →What is a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham work worth?
Across 131 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham work is $3,040.
The median Wilhelmina Barns-Graham print sells for $1,512 across 49 lots.
The median Wilhelmina Barns-Graham painting sells for $8,409 across 35 lots.
The median Wilhelmina Barns-Graham work on paper sells for $6,524 across 21 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Wilhelmina Barns-Graham prints typically sell for $1,046–$1,956 (the middle half of 26 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Wilhelmina Barns-Graham paintings typically sell for $3,648–$10,709 (the middle half of 23 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 | 51 | $1,512†‡ | $3,429 | 96.1% | 2026-10-13 |
| Paintings | 41 | $8,409‡ | $80,202 | 85.4% | 2026-05-01 |
| Works on Paper | 22 | $6,524‡ | $132,051 | 95.5% | 2026-05-01 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $9,379 | $9,379 | — | 2026-10-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $79,122 | $170,481 | — | 2021-10-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (51 lots) median $1,512 with 96.1% sell-through. Paintings (41 lots) median $8,409, record $80,202. A typical Wilhelmina Barns-Graham painting sells for around 5.6× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $79,122.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 26 | $1,046–$1,956†‡ | $1,400†‡ | $3,040 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $1,437–$2,355† | $1,892† | $3,429 |
† 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) | 23 | $3,648–$10,709‡ | $7,098‡ | $80,202 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $7,427–$14,723 | $10,304 | $25,734 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $2,545–$6,524‡ | $5,082‡ | $132,051 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $9,324–$18,905 | $11,465 | $21,562 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $132,051 |
| Paintings | 2005 | $80,202 |
| Paintings | 2016 | $79,122 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $22,968 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2026 | $12,005 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $3,429 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $3,283 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham worth?
Across 131 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham work is $3,040. The median Wilhelmina Barns-Graham print sells for $1,512 across 49 lots. The median Wilhelmina Barns-Graham painting sells for $8,409 across 35 lots. The median Wilhelmina Barns-Graham work on paper sells for $6,524 across 21 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Wilhelmina Barns-Graham prints typically sell for $1,046–$1,956 (the middle half of 26 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Wilhelmina Barns-Graham paintings typically sell for $3,648–$10,709 (the middle half of 23 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 Wilhelmina Barns-Graham print?
Based on 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham print is $1,512. 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 Wilhelmina Barns-Graham's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham print is $3,429.
What is the average price of a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham painting?
Based on 35 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham painting is $8,409. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Wilhelmina Barns-Graham's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham painting is $80,202.
What is the average price of a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham work on paper?
Based on 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham work on paper is $6,524. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Wilhelmina Barns-Graham's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wilhelmina Barns-Graham work on paper is $132,051.
What is the average price of a small Wilhelmina Barns-Graham print?
Based on 26 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Wilhelmina Barns-Graham print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,400, 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 Wilhelmina Barns-Graham painting?
Based on 23 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Wilhelmina Barns-Graham painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $7,098, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Wilhelmina Barns-Graham's auction record?
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham's auction record is $170,481, set in 2008.
See the full Wilhelmina Barns-Graham record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Wilhelmina Barns-Graham on OpeningBid →