William Johnstone (1897–1981)
What is William Johnstone’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 62 auction results for William Johnstone at 9 houses since 2007. Over the last 24 months the median price was $649 including buyer’s premium (middle half $445–$1,248, n=15). The auction record is $17,698 for AFTER BOMB DAMAGE (2024, Lyon & Turnbull). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AFTER BOMB DAMAGE | Signed, inscribed and dated 1929-1969 verso, oil on canvas | $17,698 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2024 |
| 2 | Untitled, 1926 | <p>Signed and dated 1926 to verso, oil on board</p> | $15,752 | Lyon & Turnbull | Dec 2025 |
| 3 | COMPOSITION | Indistinctly signed on the backboard, oil on board | $9,894 | Lyon & Turnbull | Dec 2021 |
| 4 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1897 | Oil paint | $7,673 | Christie's | Oct 2007 |
| 5 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1897 | Oil paint | $6,394 | Christie's | Oct 2007 |
| 6 | Abstract forms, 1897 | Oil paint | $6,184 | Christie's | Mar 2014 |
| 7 | COMPOSITION | Oil on board | $6,078 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2022 |
| 8 | COMPOSITION - 1972, 1972 | Signed and dated verso, oil on canvas | $5,347 | Lyon & Turnbull | Apr 2023 |
| 9 | Untitled, 1976 | Oil on canvas | $5,192 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jan 2023 |
| 10 | Untitled | <p>Signed verso, oil on canvas </p> | $4,983 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jan 2026 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 21 | $4,559 |
| Works on paper | 33 | $649 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 37 | $962 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 17 | $604 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 62 results from 9 houses · How we compute these figures
William Johnstone is a British (modern) artist with 65 auction lots recorded since 2007, median price $957. 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 Johnstone sold in 2026 for $967, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full William Johnstone record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Johnstone on OpeningBid →What is a William Johnstone work worth?
Across 62 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Johnstone work is $957.
The median William Johnstone work on paper sells for $655 across 32 lots.
The median William Johnstone painting sells for $4,584 across 25 lots.
The median William Johnstone sculpture sells for $2,198 across 2 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) William Johnstone work on papers typically sell for $564–$951 (the middle half of 20 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 | 1 | $607 | $607 | — | 2025-06-25 |
| Paintings | 26 | $4,584† | $17,698 | 96.2% | 2026-01-14 |
| Works on Paper | 36 | $655‡ | $1,832 | 88.9% | 2026-06-23 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $2,198 | $3,792 | — | 2024-04-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $12,823 | $17,698 | — | 2025-12-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
William Johnstone's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $607. Paintings (26 lots) median $4,584, record $17,698. A typical William Johnstone painting sells for around 7.6× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $12,823.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $2,533–$6,157† | $5,087† | $15,752 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $441–$856‡ | $509‡ | $1,620 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 20 | $564–$951 | $733 | $1,832 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2024 | $17,698 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $15,752 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $3,792 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $1,832 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $1,620 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $607 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $604 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Johnstone worth?
Across 62 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Johnstone work is $957. The median William Johnstone work on paper sells for $655 across 32 lots. The median William Johnstone painting sells for $4,584 across 25 lots. The median William Johnstone sculpture sells for $2,198 across 2 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) William Johnstone work on papers typically sell for $564–$951 (the middle half of 20 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 William Johnstone work on paper?
Based on 32 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Johnstone work on paper is $655. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is William Johnstone's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Johnstone work on paper is $1,832.
What is the average price of a William Johnstone painting?
Based on 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Johnstone painting is $4,584. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is William Johnstone's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Johnstone painting is $17,698.
What is the average price of a medium William Johnstone work on paper?
Based on 20 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Johnstone work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $733, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is the average price of a medium William Johnstone painting?
Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Johnstone painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,087, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is William Johnstone's auction record?
William Johnstone's auction record is $17,698, set in 2024.
See the full William Johnstone record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Johnstone on OpeningBid →