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

# William Kentridge (b. 1955)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 880 auction results for William Kentridge at 29 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,376 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,767–$32,000, n=227). The auction record is $936,060 for Large Typewriters (2021, Bonhams). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Large Typewriters, 1955 | Charcoal | $936,060 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |
| 2 | Large Typewriters, 1955 | Charcoal and pastel on paper | $756,816 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |
| 3 | Negotiations minuet, 1955 | Charcoal on paper | $557,906 | Bonhams | Mar 2026 |
| 4 | Two Heads | Charcoal and coloured crayon on paper | $398,523 | Sotheby's | Oct 2021 |
| 5 | Rebus, 1955 | Bronze | $328,831 | Bonhams | Mar 2019 |
| 6 | Felix in Exile (Nandi's Cry), 1993 | Charcoal | $312,800 | Phillips | Dec 2019 |
| 7 | Quartet 1 (Dancing Man), 2003 | Bronze | $279,400 | Sotheby's | Feb 2023 |
| 8 | Rebus, 1955 | — | $261,797 | Bonhams | Mar 2019 |
| 9 | Eight Figures, 2010 | Paper | $257,230 | Phillips | Oct 2024 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anti-Entropy, 2011 | Charcoal, coloured pencil and poster paint on 3 sheets of brown pattern-makers paper, in artist's frame | $475,991 | Phillips | Jun 2019 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 15 | $48,260 |
| Sculpture | 31 | $47,993 |
| Works on paper | 171 | $36,664 |
| Other | 100 | $5,027 |
| Prints | 238 | $4,470 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 128 | $55,809 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 170 | $16,578 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 191 | $4,174 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 880 results from 29 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Kentridge is a South African artist with 1,062 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $15,480. 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 Kentridge sold in 2026 for $107,191, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**7 William Kentridge works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

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

## What is a William Kentridge work worth?

Across 837 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Kentridge work is $15,480.

The median William Kentridge print sells for $5,080 across 532 lots.

The median William Kentridge work on paper sells for $51,206 across 144 lots.

The median William Kentridge sculpture sells for $44,450 across 33 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) William Kentridge prints typically sell for $1,947–$4,633 (the middle half of 141 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) William Kentridge prints typically sell for $2,510–$20,027 (the middle half of 102 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 | 563 | $5,080†‡ | $96,043 | 94.5% | 2026-09-18 |
| Paintings | 3 | $92,044 | $146,587 | 66.7% | 2020-02-14 |
| Works on Paper | 164 | $51,206†‡ | $936,060 | 87.8% | 2026-10-08 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 39 | $44,450† | $328,831 | 84.6% | 2026-10-17 |
| Photography | 20 | $4,336 | $19,594 | 90% | 2026-07-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 67 | $146,753 | $936,060 | — | 2026-10-17 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William Kentridge's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (563 lots) median $5,080 with 94.5% sell-through. Paintings (3 lots) median $92,044, record $146,587. A typical William Kentridge painting sells for around 18× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 67 lots) the median is $146,753.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 141 | $1,947–$4,633†‡ | $2,833†‡ | $31,065 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 102 | $2,510–$20,027†‡ | $6,358†‡ | $95,606 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 56 | $16,754–$35,636†‡ | $28,799†‡ | $96,043 |

† 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) | 24 | $15,617–$38,575 | $23,512 | $230,547 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 53 | $30,394–$60,223‡ | $40,000‡ | $398,523 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 48 | $70,635–$186,617† | $110,840† | $936,060 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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) | 18 | $18,307–$95,953† | $36,901† | $328,831 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $42,930–$100,212 | $61,565 | $160,965 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $2,848–$4,408 | $3,500 | $15,793 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $936,060 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $557,906 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $328,831 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $279,400 |
| Paintings | 2020 | $146,587 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $96,043 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $95,606 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $37,500 |

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 Kentridge worth?

Across 837 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Kentridge work is $15,480. The median William Kentridge print sells for $5,080 across 532 lots. The median William Kentridge work on paper sells for $51,206 across 144 lots. The median William Kentridge sculpture sells for $44,450 across 33 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Kentridge prints typically sell for $1,947–$4,633 (the middle half of 141 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) William Kentridge prints typically sell for $2,510–$20,027 (the middle half of 102 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 Kentridge print?

Based on 532 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Kentridge print is $5,080. 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 Kentridge's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Kentridge print is $96,043.

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

Based on 144 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Kentridge work on paper is $51,206. 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 Kentridge's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Kentridge work on paper is $936,060.

### What is the average price of a William Kentridge sculpture?

Based on 33 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Kentridge sculpture is $44,450. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William Kentridge's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Kentridge sculpture is $328,831.

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

Based on 141 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Kentridge print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,833, 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 medium William Kentridge print?

Based on 102 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Kentridge print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $6,358, 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 Kentridge's auction record?

William Kentridge's auction record is $936,060, set in 2021.

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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, “William Kentridge auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-kentridge (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.