> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-wegman · updated 2026-11-02

# William Wegman (b. 1943)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 312 auction results for William Wegman at 48 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,681 including buyer’s premium (middle half $891–$2,961, n=56). The auction record is $50,000 for On and On (2019, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | On and On, 1943 | Archival pigment print | $50,000 | Christie's | Oct 2019 |
| 2 | Ray-O-Vac, 1942 | Gelatin silver prints | $36,250 | Christie's | Oct 2008 |
| 3 | Untied on Tied Off | Photograph | $22,839 | Sotheby's | Feb 2021 |
| 4 | Before / On / After: Permutations, 1972 | Seven gelatin silver prints, each flush-mounted and mounted again | $19,050 | Phillips | Apr 2025 |
| 5 | Poodled II and Poodled III, 1980 | Polaroid Polacolor prints | $16,380 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 6 | Untitled (Leaves), circa 2005 | Polaroid Polacolor print | $16,380 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 7 | Red Cube Cub, 1942 | Chromogenic print | $15,120 | Christie's | Oct 2024 |
| 8 | Green Caramelle | Digital inkjet triptych | $15,000 | Phillips | Apr 2018 |
| 9 | Before / On / After : Permutations - 1972, 1972 | Sept épreuves argentiques contrecollées sur carton | $13,793 | Artcurial | Dec 2016 |
| 10 | Untitled (Dog and Ball) | Gelatin silver print mounted on board, in 2 parts | $12,500 | Sotheby's | Sep 2007 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 5 | $5,334 |
| Photographs | 121 | $3,250 |
| Other | 65 | $2,200 |
| Works on paper | 15 | $1,792 |
| Prints | 48 | $1,246 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 127 | $2,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 108 | $1,664 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 312 results from 48 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Wegman is an American artist with 477 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $2,040. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by William Wegman sold in 2026 for $5,418, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William Wegman work worth?

Across 302 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Wegman work is $2,040.

The median William Wegman photograph sells for $2,436 across 174 lots.

The median William Wegman print sells for $1,050 across 71 lots.

The median William Wegman work on paper sells for $2,397 across 36 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) William Wegman photographs typically sell for $1,000–$3,750 (the middle half of 93 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) William Wegman photographs typically sell for $1,750–$4,750 (the middle half of 69 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 | 108 | $1,050†‡ | $8,636 | 65.7% | 2026-07-30 |
| Paintings | 5 | $885† | $5,334 | 60% | 2025-08-25 |
| Works on Paper | 50 | $2,397†‡ | $7,500 | 72% | 2026-03-10 |
| Photography | 215 | $2,436†‡ | $50,000 | 80.9% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 16 | $14,396 | $50,000 | — | 2025-04-02 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

William Wegman's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (108 lots) median $1,050 with 65.7% sell-through. Paintings (5 lots) median $885, record $5,334. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 16 lots) the median is $14,396.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 25 | $338–$1,625†‡ | $908†‡ | $8,636 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 41 | $800–$2,152†‡ | $1,164†‡ | $5,760 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $300–$888†‡ | $625†‡ | $3,840 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $1,979–$5,938 | $3,750 | $7,500 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 93 | $1,000–$3,750† | $2,000† | $36,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 69 | $1,750–$4,750†‡ | $2,659†‡ | $50,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2019 | $50,000 |
| Photography | 2008 | $36,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $8,636 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $7,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $7,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $7,500 |
| Paintings | 2024 | $5,334 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $885 |

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 Wegman worth?

Across 302 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Wegman work is $2,040. The median William Wegman photograph sells for $2,436 across 174 lots. The median William Wegman print sells for $1,050 across 71 lots. The median William Wegman work on paper sells for $2,397 across 36 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Wegman photographs typically sell for $1,000–$3,750 (the middle half of 93 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) William Wegman photographs typically sell for $1,750–$4,750 (the middle half of 69 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 Wegman photograph?

Based on 174 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Wegman photograph is $2,436. 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 William Wegman's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Wegman photograph is $50,000.

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

Based on 71 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Wegman print is $1,050. 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 William Wegman's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Wegman print is $8,636.

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

Based on 36 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Wegman work on paper is $2,397. 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 William Wegman's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Wegman work on paper is $7,500.

### What is the average price of a small William Wegman photograph?

Based on 93 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Wegman photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,000, 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 Wegman photograph?

Based on 69 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Wegman photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,659, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. 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 William Wegman's auction record?

William Wegman's auction record is $50,000, set in 2019.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “William Wegman auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-wegman (updated 2026-11-02).

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.