> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-tolliver · updated 2026-11-03

# William Tolliver (1951–2000)

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

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 95 auction results for William Tolliver at 10 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,403 including buyer’s premium (middle half $725–$1,950, n=20). The auction record is $11,950 for Three Field Workers (2012, Neal Auction Company). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Three Field Workers, 1951 | Pastel on paper | $11,950 | Neal Auction Company | Sep 2012 |
| 2 | Man Picking Cotton, 1951 | Acrylic and mixed media on canvas | $8,540 | Neal Auction Company | Apr 2017 |
| 3 | Workers in the Cane Field, 1951 | Pastel on paper | $6,572 | Neal Auction Company | Sep 2012 |
| 4 | Jazz Drummer, 1951 | Oil on canvas | $6,100 | Neal Auction Company | Nov 2015 |
| 5 | Blues Player, 1951 | Acrylic and mixed media on canvas | $4,880 | Neal Auction Company | Apr 2017 |
| 6 | Pine Tree, 1951 | Oil on paper | $4,313 | Neal Auction Company | Aug 2002 |
| 7 | Watching the Sunset in the Fields, 1951 | Oil on board | $3,660 | Neal Auction Company | Dec 2016 |
| 8 | Mother and Child, 1951 | Oil on canvas | $3,450 | Neal Auction Company | Oct 2002 |
| 9 | Ready for Church, 1951 | Oil on canvas | $3,437 | Neal Auction Company | Sep 2013 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transcendant of the Blues | Serigraph | $5,760 | Swann Auction Galleries | Mar 2013 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 21 | $2,745 |
| Works on paper | 10 | $2,038 |
| Prints | 14 | $700 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $2,095 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 35 | $1,900 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $984 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 95 results from 10 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Tolliver is an American/Louisiana artist with 117 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $1,595. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by William Tolliver sold in 2026 for $1,690, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William Tolliver work worth?

Across 80 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Tolliver work is $1,595.

The median William Tolliver painting sells for $3,050 across 27 lots.

The median William Tolliver print sells for $650 across 27 lots.

The median William Tolliver work on paper sells for $2,038 across 18 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) William Tolliver prints typically sell for $525–$828 (the middle half of 23 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 | 32 | $650† | $5,760 | 84.4% | 2025-12-17 |
| Paintings | 36 | $3,050† | $8,540 | 75% | 2026-06-05 |
| Works on Paper | 25 | $2,038† | $11,950 | 72% | 2026-02-02 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $1,700† | $1,700† | — | 2024-11-19 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $8,540† | $11,950 | — | 2022-11-19 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

William Tolliver's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (32 lots) median $650 with 84.4% sell-through. Paintings (36 lots) median $3,050, record $8,540. A typical William Tolliver painting sells for around 4.7× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $8,540.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $525–$828† | $750† | $5,760 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $2,621–$4,050† | $3,328† | $6,875† |
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $1,900–$4,880† | $2,750† | $8,540 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $1,294–$3,512† | $2,250† | $11,950 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2012 | $11,950 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $8,540 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $6,875† |
| Works on Paper | 2012 | $6,572 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $5,760 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $2,500 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $1,700† |

† 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 Tolliver worth?

Across 80 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Tolliver work is $1,595. The median William Tolliver painting sells for $3,050 across 27 lots. The median William Tolliver print sells for $650 across 27 lots. The median William Tolliver work on paper sells for $2,038 across 18 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) William Tolliver prints typically sell for $525–$828 (the middle half of 23 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 Tolliver painting?

Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Tolliver painting is $3,050. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William Tolliver's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Tolliver painting is $8,540.

### What is the average price of a William Tolliver print?

Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Tolliver print is $650. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William Tolliver's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Tolliver print is $5,760.

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

Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Tolliver work on paper is $2,038. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William Tolliver's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Tolliver work on paper is $11,950.

### What is the average price of a medium William Tolliver print?

Based on 23 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Tolliver print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $750, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a medium William Tolliver painting?

Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Tolliver painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,328, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William Tolliver's auction record?

William Tolliver's auction record is $11,950, set in 2012.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “William Tolliver auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-tolliver (updated 2026-11-03).

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.