> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-bailey · updated 2026-11-02

# William Bailey (1930–2020)

## What is William Bailey’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 56 auction results for William Bailey at 18 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,225 including buyer’s premium (middle half $575–$11,653, n=16). The auction record is $82,875 for Still Life, Pierle (2025, Bonhams). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Still Life, Pierle, 1987 | Painting | $82,875 | Bonhams | Mar 2025 |
| 2 | Essex Still Life, 1979 | Oil paint | $61,440 | Sotheby's | Feb 2026 |
| 3 | Room by the Sea, 2006 | Oil paint | $55,000 | Phillips | May 2019 |
| 4 | Ginepro Still Life IV, 1980 | Casein on paper | $35,560 | Sotheby's | May 2024 |
| 5 | Montisi, 1997 | Oil on canvas | $30,000 | Christie's | Sep 2005 |
| 6 | Panicale, 1988 | Oil paint | $22,500 | Christie's | May 2011 |
| 7 | Untitled (casein on paper), 1993 | Painting | $14,190 | Phillips | Feb 2026 |
| 8 | Still Life San Giustino, 1990 | Sapphire | $13,970 | Rago Arts | Nov 2025 |
| 9 | Still Life with Gubbio Cup, 1978 | Painting | $10,880 | Sotheby's | Feb 2026 |
| 10 | Trequanda, 1995 | Tempera | $10,710 | Rago Arts | Nov 2023 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 13 | $13,970 |
| Works on paper | 13 | $1,147 |
| Prints | 22 | $857 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 22 | $1,563 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $1,012 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 56 results from 18 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Bailey is an American artist with 74 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $1,125. 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 William Bailey sold in 2026 for $7,680, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 William Bailey work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [William Bailey on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-bailey?ref=kg:william-bailey) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a William Bailey work worth?

Across 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Bailey work is $1,125.

The median William Bailey print sells for $952 across 29 lots.

The median William Bailey work on paper sells for $1,200 across 15 lots.

The median William Bailey painting sells for $18,235 across 10 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 | 33 | $952†‡ | $2,400 | 87.9% | 2026-05-03 |
| Paintings | 10 | $18,235 | $82,875 | — | 2026-10-08 |
| Works on Paper | 17 | $1,200† | $35,560 | 88.2% | 2026-09-17 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $61,440 | $82,875 | — | 2026-02-27 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William Bailey's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (33 lots) median $952 with 87.9% sell-through. Paintings (10 lots) median $18,235, record $82,875. A typical William Bailey painting sells for around 19× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $61,440.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $590–$1,080‡ | $813‡ | $1,560 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $750–$1,200† | $1,062† | $2,400 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $11,525–$28,125 | $18,235 | $61,440 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $797–$1,350† | $1,041† | $35,560 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $1,875–$8,750 | $6,096 | $14,190 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2025 | $82,875 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $61,440 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $35,560 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $14,190 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $2,400 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $1,560 |

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 William Bailey worth?

Across 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Bailey work is $1,125. The median William Bailey print sells for $952 across 29 lots. The median William Bailey work on paper sells for $1,200 across 15 lots. The median William Bailey painting sells for $18,235 across 10 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 William Bailey print?

Based on 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Bailey print is $952. 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 William Bailey's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Bailey print is $2,400.

### What is the average price of a William Bailey work on paper?

Based on 15 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Bailey work on paper is $1,200. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William Bailey's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Bailey work on paper is $35,560.

### What is the average price of a small William Bailey print?

Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Bailey print (small (under 50 cm)) is $813, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a medium William Bailey print?

Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Bailey print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,062, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William Bailey's auction record?

William Bailey's auction record is $82,875, set in 2025.

---

Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “William Bailey auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-bailey (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.