Willem de Kooning (1904–1997)
Willem de Kooning is a Dutch-American artist with 287 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $8,474. 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 Willem de Kooning sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $10,719 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Willem de Kooning works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Willem de Kooning free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Willem de Kooning record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Willem de Kooning on OpeningBid →What is a Willem de Kooning work worth?
Across 232 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Willem de Kooning work is $8,474.
The median Willem de Kooning print sells for $5,500 across 131 lots.
The median Willem de Kooning work on paper sells for $32,500 across 37 lots.
The median Willem de Kooning painting sells for $324,874 across 32 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Willem de Kooning prints typically sell for $3,600–$11,875 (the middle half of 94 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Willem de Kooning prints typically sell for $2,250–$5,932 (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 | 158 | $5,500†‡ | $151,567 | 82.9% | 2026-09-09 |
| Paintings | 33 | $324,874‡ | $16.4M | 97% | 2026-05-18 |
| Works on Paper | 47 | $32,500 | $2.7M | 78.7% | 2026-05-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 9 | $129,190† | $709,182 | 88.9% | 2026-10-22 |
| Photography | 3 | $425‡ | $765‡ | — | 2008-12-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 43 | $312,500‡ | $16.4M | — | 2026-05-18 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Willem de Kooning's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (158 lots) median $5,500 with 82.9% sell-through. Paintings (33 lots) median $324,874, record $16,397,151. A typical Willem de Kooning painting sells for around 59× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 43 lots) the median is $312,500.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 23 | $2,250–$5,932 | $3,810 | $47,810 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 94 | $3,600–$11,875†‡ | $6,217†‡ | $151,567 |
† 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) | 5 | $81,587–$123,015 | $93,750 | $1.2M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 21 | $130,291–$1.2M | $324,874 | $2.4M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 20 | $9,300–$75,090 | $24,648 | $2.7M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $17,250–$87,165 | $39,693 | $312,500 |
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $84,011–$451,275 | $165,034 | $709,182 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2026 | $16.4M |
| Paintings | 2026 | $9.9M |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $2.7M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2005 | $709,182 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2013 | $644,892 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $541,403 |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $151,567 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $138,449 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Willem de Kooning worth?
Across 232 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Willem de Kooning work is $8,474. The median Willem de Kooning print sells for $5,500 across 131 lots. The median Willem de Kooning work on paper sells for $32,500 across 37 lots. The median Willem de Kooning painting sells for $324,874 across 32 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Willem de Kooning prints typically sell for $3,600–$11,875 (the middle half of 94 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Willem de Kooning prints typically sell for $2,250–$5,932 (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 Willem de Kooning print?
Based on 131 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Willem de Kooning print is $5,500. 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 Willem de Kooning's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Willem de Kooning print is $151,567.
What is the average price of a Willem de Kooning work on paper?
Based on 37 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Willem de Kooning work on paper is $32,500.
What is Willem de Kooning's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Willem de Kooning work on paper is $2,735,416.
What is the average price of a Willem de Kooning painting?
Based on 32 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Willem de Kooning painting is $324,874. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Willem de Kooning's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Willem de Kooning painting is $16,397,151.
What is the average price of a medium Willem de Kooning print?
Based on 94 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Willem de Kooning print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $6,217, 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 Willem de Kooning print?
Based on 23 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Willem de Kooning print (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,810, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Willem de Kooning's auction record?
Willem de Kooning's auction record is $16,397,151, set in 2026.
See the full Willem de Kooning record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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