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

# William Pope.L (1955–2023)

## What is William Pope.L’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 28 auction results for William Pope.L at 8 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $6,858 including buyer’s premium (middle half $4,096–$10,160, n=5). The auction record is $48,260 for February Painting (2024, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February Painting, 2017 | Acrylic, ballpoint pen, graphite, chalk, Flashe, oil, Post-it, strap hinge, tape and found writing instructions on linen | $48,260 | Sotheby's | Mar 2024 |
| 2 | Failure Drawing #1204, 2010 | Pencil | $22,860 | Rago Arts | Nov 2025 |
| 3 | Tan People Turn Uneasily the Creaking Hip, 2016 | Acrylic, china marker, ink and ballpoint pen on paper with painted push pins, in artist’s frame | $19,050 | Sotheby's | Feb 2024 |
| 4 | Gray People Pink Sunshine, 2014 | Gray People Pink Sunshine | $18,370 | Christie's | Nov 2004 |
| 5 | Skin Set Painting 6866, 2015 | Charcoal | $15,000 | Rago Arts | Mar 2021 |
| 6 | Failure Drawing series, 2005 | Mixed media drawing, on tissue paper, contained in the original artist's frame | $12,700 | Phillips | Apr 2023 |
| 7 | Gray People Fink Sunshine, 2014 | Gray People Fink Sunshine | $12,630 | Christie's | Nov 2004 |
| 8 | Black People... (Six Works), 2001 | Pen, marker and paint on paper | $12,500 | Christie's | Sep 2016 |
| 9 | Failure Drawing #664 At The Fair, 2009 | Acrylic, ink, oilstick, glitter and printed paper collage on printed paper | $10,625 | Christie's | Mar 2018 |
| 10 | Gray People Fink Sunshine, 2014 | Oil and acrylic painting, on found paper, framed | $10,160 | Phillips | Apr 2023 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 5 | $18,370 |
| Works on paper | 16 | $7,810 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 15 | $5,700 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 5 | $2,393 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 28 results from 8 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Pope.L is an American artist with 34 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $6,279. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by William Pope.L sold in 2026 for $10,160, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William Pope.L work worth?

Across 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Pope.L work is $6,279.

The median William Pope.L work on paper sells for $10,120 across 12 lots.

The median William Pope.L print sells for $1,625 across 5 lots.

The median William Pope.L painting sells for $10,392 across 4 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 | 6 | $1,625† | $3,600† | 83.3% | 2024-04-04 |
| Paintings | 4 | $10,392 | $18,370 | — | 2023-04-18 |
| Works on Paper | 13 | $10,120 | $22,860 | 92.3% | 2026-04-02 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $5,700 | $5,700 | — | 2020-06-11 |
| Photography | 1 | $3,556 | $3,556 | — | 2025-05-28 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

William Pope.L's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (6 lots) median $1,625 with 83.3% sell-through. Paintings (4 lots) median $10,392, record $18,370. A typical William Pope.L painting sells for around 6.4× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $4,598–$13,750 | $10,080 | $19,050 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $22,860 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $19,050 |
| Paintings | 2004 | $18,370 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $10,625 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2020 | $5,700 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $3,600† |
| Photography | 2025 | $3,556 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $1,905 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Pope.L worth?

Across 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Pope.L work is $6,279. The median William Pope.L work on paper sells for $10,120 across 12 lots. The median William Pope.L print sells for $1,625 across 5 lots. The median William Pope.L painting sells for $10,392 across 4 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a William Pope.L work on paper?

Based on 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Pope.L work on paper is $10,120.

### What is William Pope.L's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Pope.L work on paper is $22,860.

### What is William Pope.L's auction record?

William Pope.L's auction record is $48,260, set in 2024.

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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 Pope.L auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-pope-l (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.