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

# Willem de Kooning (1904–1997)

## What is Willem de Kooning’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,090 auction results for Willem de Kooning at 50 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $15,360 including buyer’s premium (middle half $4,303–$80,645, n=119). The auction record is $68,937,500 for Woman as Landscape (2018, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woman as Landscape, 1954 | Charcoal | $68,937,500 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 2 | Untitled XXV, 1977 | Oil paint | $66,327,500 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |
| 3 | 無題（油彩畫布）, 1979 | Oil on canvas | $34,794,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2022 |
| 4 | Collage, 1950 | Oil paint | $33,645,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2022 |
| 5 | Untitled VIII, 1977 | Oil paint | $32,085,000 | Christie's | Nov 2013 |
| 6 | Orestes, 1947 | Oil, enamel and paper collage on paper mounted on board | $30,885,000 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 7 | Clamdigger, 1972 | Bronze | $29,285,000 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 8 | Untitled XXV, 1977 | Oil paint | $27,120,000 | Christie's | Nov 2006 |
| 9 | Untitled III, 1978 | Oil paint | $27,000,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 10 | Untitled III, 1975 | Oil on canvas | $26,000,000 | Sotheby's | May 2026 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 249 | $962,500 |
| Sculpture | 38 | $594,250 |
| Other | 54 | $50,638 |
| Works on paper | 262 | $30,840 |
| Prints | 408 | $4,719 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 117 | $5,002,954 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 272 | $18,320 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 578 | $11,250 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,090 results from 50 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Willem de Kooning is an American artist with 1,321 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $20,160. 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 $192,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**19 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?ref=kg:willem-de-kooning) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Willem de Kooning work worth?

Across 1,086 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Willem de Kooning work is $20,160.

The median Willem de Kooning print sells for $4,560 across 452 lots.

The median Willem de Kooning work on paper sells for $54,529 across 320 lots.

The median Willem de Kooning painting sells for $1,304,000 across 186 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Willem de Kooning prints typically sell for $2,772–$8,626 (the middle half of 365 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Willem de Kooning work on papers typically sell for $12,566–$81,485 (the middle half of 175 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 | 509 | $4,560†‡ | $571,500 | 88.8% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 204 | $1.3M†‡ | $68.9M | 91.2% | 2026-10-14 |
| Works on Paper | 357 | $54,529‡ | $13.1M | 89.6% | 2026-10-01 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 38 | $733,750 | $29.3M | 94.7% | 2026-02-12 |
| Photography | 1 | $2,200 | $2,200 | — | 2007-12-13 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 344 | $896,000‡ | $68.9M | — | 2026-10-01 |

† 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 (509 lots) median $4,560 with 88.8% sell-through. Paintings (204 lots) median $1,304,000, record $68,937,500. A typical Willem de Kooning painting sells for around 286× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 344 lots) the median is $896,000.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 67 | $2,150–$3,832†‡ | $2,838†‡ | $17,640 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 365 | $2,772–$8,626†‡ | $5,040†‡ | $571,500 |

† 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) | 11 | $34,414–$84,700†‡ | $73,638†‡ | $302,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 79 | $105,366–$623,750†‡ | $218,500†‡ | $23.3M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 93 | $3.7M–$10.9M‡ | $7.1M‡ | $68.9M |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 175 | $12,566–$81,485‡ | $25,045‡ | $9.6M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 126 | $44,838–$1M | $221,350 | $13.1M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 14 | $219,375–$1.8M | $774,000 | $6.6M |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $28,438–$337,125 | $118,050 | $1.8M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $625,000–$2.2M | $889,000 | $3.4M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $1.6M–$7.2M | $3M | $29.3M |

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2018 | $68.9M |
| Paintings | 2016 | $66.3M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2014 | $29.3M |
| Works on Paper | 2005 | $13.1M |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $9.6M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $8.4M |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $571,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $500,000 |

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 1,086 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Willem de Kooning work is $20,160. The median Willem de Kooning print sells for $4,560 across 452 lots. The median Willem de Kooning work on paper sells for $54,529 across 320 lots. The median Willem de Kooning painting sells for $1,304,000 across 186 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Willem de Kooning prints typically sell for $2,772–$8,626 (the middle half of 365 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Willem de Kooning work on papers typically sell for $12,566–$81,485 (the middle half of 175 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 452 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Willem de Kooning print is $4,560. 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 $571,500.

### What is the average price of a Willem de Kooning work on paper?

Based on 320 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Willem de Kooning work on paper is $54,529. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### 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 $13,120,000.

### What is the average price of a Willem de Kooning painting?

Based on 186 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Willem de Kooning painting is $1,304,000. 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 painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Willem de Kooning painting is $68,937,500.

### What is the average price of a medium Willem de Kooning print?

Based on 365 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Willem de Kooning print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,040, 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 Willem de Kooning work on paper?

Based on 175 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Willem de Kooning work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $25,045, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Willem de Kooning's auction record?

Willem de Kooning's auction record is $68,937,500, set in 2018.

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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.