> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/willem-de-kooning · updated 2026-11-02

# 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).

- [Willem de Kooning on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/willem-de-kooning-3?ref=kg:willem-de-kooning-3) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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, “Willem de Kooning auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/willem-de-kooning (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.