> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-mortensen · updated 2026-11-01

# 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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “William Mortensen auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-mortensen (updated 2026-11-01).

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.