William Mortensen (1897–1965)
William Mortensen is an American artist with 73 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $1,900. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.
A work by William Mortensen sold in 2024 for $3,400, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full William Mortensen record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Mortensen on OpeningBid →What is a William Mortensen work worth?
Across 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Mortensen work is $1,900.
The median William Mortensen photograph sells for $1,600 across 21 lots.
The median William Mortensen work on paper sells for $5,300 across 2 lots.
The median William Mortensen print sells for $3,562 across 2 lots.
Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2 | $3,562 | $5,250 | — | 2009-10-08 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $5,300 | $7,200 | — | 2024-10-31 |
| Photography | 29 | $1,600† | $7,280 | 72.4% | 2024-12-12 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Price by size
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 15 | $948–$3,690† | $1,900† | $7,280 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2016 | $7,280 |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $7,200 |
| Photography | 2022 | $5,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $5,250 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $3,400 |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $1,875 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Mortensen worth?
Across 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Mortensen work is $1,900. The median William Mortensen photograph sells for $1,600 across 21 lots. The median William Mortensen work on paper sells for $5,300 across 2 lots. The median William Mortensen print sells for $3,562 across 2 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a William Mortensen photograph?
Based on 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Mortensen photograph is $1,600. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is William Mortensen's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Mortensen photograph is $7,280.
What is the average price of a small William Mortensen photograph?
Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Mortensen photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,900, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is William Mortensen's auction record?
William Mortensen's auction record is $7,280, set in 2016.
See the full William Mortensen record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Mortensen on OpeningBid →