> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-joseph-kentridge · updated 2026-11-03

# William Joseph Kentridge (b. 1955)

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

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 228 auction results for William Joseph Kentridge at 15 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $896 including buyer’s premium (middle half $387–$2,209, n=63). The auction record is $216,806 for An Embarkation (2014, Bonhams). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | An Embarkation, 1955 | Charcoal and pastel on paper | $216,806 | Bonhams | Oct 2014 |
| 2 | Breathe (Breathe) | Ink on paper | $96,144 | Karl & Faber | Dec 2021 |
| 3 | Homecoming, 1955 | Charcoal | $78,529 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |
| 4 | The pacing panther from 'Confessions of Zeno', 1955 | Red chalk | $73,317 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |
| 5 | Untitled V, 2007 | Bronze | $70,322 | Deutscher and Hackett | Apr 2026 |
| 6 | Homecoming, 1955 | Charcoal | $61,921 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |
| 7 | The pacing panther from 'Confessions of Zeno', 1955 | Charcoal and coloured chalk | $57,793 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |
| 8 | Sophiatown at Civitavecchia, 1955 | Mixed media | $54,874 | Bonhams | Oct 2021 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orange head, 1955 | Drypoint | $55,943 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |
| 2 | Orange head, 1955 | Drypoint with hand colouring | $44,033 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 11 | $19,459 |
| Prints | 38 | $3,002 |
| Sculpture | 5 | $896 |
| Other | 80 | $779 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $27,721 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 11 | $8,960 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 26 | $2,486 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 228 results from 15 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Joseph Kentridge is a South African artist with 160 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $2,271. 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 Joseph Kentridge sold in 2026 for $10,453, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 William Joseph Kentridge work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-03).

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

## What is a William Joseph Kentridge work worth?

Across 116 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Joseph Kentridge work is $2,271.

The median William Joseph Kentridge print sells for $2,668 across 41 lots.

The median William Joseph Kentridge work on paper sells for $10,214 across 9 lots.

The median William Joseph Kentridge photograph sells for $4,250 across 3 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 | 64 | $2,668†‡ | $55,943 | 64.1% | 2026-10-21 |
| Paintings | 1 | $19,459 | $19,459 | — | 2021-03-17 |
| Works on Paper | 14 | $10,214 | $216,806 | 64.3% | 2026-03-19 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 4 | $17,568‡ | $70,322 | — | 2026-04-29 |
| Photography | 5 | $4,250† | $8,960 | 60% | 2019-11-26 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 12 | $59,857‡ | $216,806 | — | 2026-04-29 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William Joseph Kentridge's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (64 lots) median $2,668 with 64.1% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $19,459, record $19,459. A typical William Joseph Kentridge painting sells for around 7.3× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 12 lots) the median is $59,857.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 19 | $1,556–$3,576† | $2,296† | $40,125 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $1,556–$3,814†‡ | $1,816†‡ | $55,943 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $26,178–$30,937‡ | $28,185‡ | $34,634‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $216,806 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $96,144 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2026 | $70,322 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $55,943 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $40,125 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $19,459 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2016 | $19,166 |
| Photography | 2014 | $8,960 |

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 Joseph Kentridge worth?

Across 116 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Joseph Kentridge work is $2,271. The median William Joseph Kentridge print sells for $2,668 across 41 lots. The median William Joseph Kentridge work on paper sells for $10,214 across 9 lots. The median William Joseph Kentridge photograph sells for $4,250 across 3 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 Joseph Kentridge print?

Based on 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Joseph Kentridge print is $2,668. 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 Joseph Kentridge's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Joseph Kentridge print is $55,943.

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

Based on 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Joseph Kentridge work on paper is $10,214.

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

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Joseph Kentridge work on paper is $216,806.

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

Based on 19 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Joseph Kentridge print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,296, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

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

Based on 14 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Joseph Kentridge print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,816, 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 William Joseph Kentridge's auction record?

William Joseph Kentridge's auction record is $216,806, set in 2014.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “William Joseph Kentridge auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-joseph-kentridge (updated 2026-11-03).

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.