William Nelson Copley (1919–1996)

William Nelson Copley is an American artist with 123 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $38,972.

Price breakdown by category

CategoryLots trackedMedian priceRecord priceSell-throughLast sale
Prints & Editions12$594$1,1432023-06-21
Paintings49$74,942$579,6002025-12-04
Works on Paper9$12,949$16,2502024-03-27
Sculpture & Installation1$10,000$10,0002014-07-24
Masterpieces (top of market)25$159,090$579,6002025-12-04

William Nelson Copley's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (12 lots) median $594. Paintings (49 lots) median $74,942, record $579,600. A typical William Nelson Copley painting sells for around 126× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 25 lots) the median is $159,090.

Recent sales

TitleDateHousePrice
Untitled2026-02-27Christie's$11,430
Lazy Afternoon2025-12-04Lempertz$121,342
Lips that touch liquor must never touch mine (From "Lips That Touch Liquor" by George W. Young)2025-11-26Sotheby's$110,271
(1919-1996) Victory 59 x 78 in (149.9 x 198.1 cm) (Painted in 1981)2025-11-20Bonhams$74,942
(1919-1996) LETTER EDGED IN BLACK PRESS "S.M.S." NO. 3 AND NO. 4 New York, New York, June and August 1968, various…2025-10-16Bonhams$856

Frequently asked questions

What is the average price of a William Nelson Copley painting?

Based on 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Nelson Copley painting is $74,942.

What is William Nelson Copley's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Nelson Copley painting is $579,600.

What is the average price of a William Nelson Copley print?

Based on 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Nelson Copley print is $594.

What is William Nelson Copley's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Nelson Copley print is $1,143.

What is William Nelson Copley's auction record?

William Nelson Copley's auction record is $579,600, set on 2022-05-14.