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

# Willie Bester (b. 1956)

## What is Willie Bester’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 38 auction results for Willie Bester at 10 houses since 2007. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,455 including buyer’s premium (middle half $949–$2,374, n=8). The auction record is $25,319 for What Happened in the Western Cape? (2016, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What Happened in the Western Cape? | Mixed media assemblage on board | $25,319 | Sotheby's | Nov 2016 |
| 2 | The Great Trek (1996), 1956 | Mixed media assemblage | $12,496 | Bonhams | Mar 2017 |
| 3 | Trojan Horse II (1994), 1956 | Mixed media assemblage | $8,747 | Bonhams | Mar 2017 |
| 4 | South African street scene, 1995 | Oil and mixed media on board | $6,030 | Christie's | Sep 2007 |
| 5 | Street scene, 1995 | Oil and mixed media on board | $5,528 | Christie's | Sep 2007 |
| 6 | Landscapes Crossroads, 1956 | Mixed media painting | $4,740 | PIASA | Jun 2026 |
| 7 | Woman with Traditional Head Scarf & Woman with a Bag of Bread Flour on Her Head, 2002 | Mixed media and oil on canvas | $4,250 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 8 | Human rights, 1956 | Mixed media on panel | $3,418 | PIASA | Jun 2026 |
| 9 | "ANC Lives", 1956 | — | $2,517 | Bonhams | Mar 2019 |
| 10 | ANC Lives, 1956 | Aluminium | $2,517 | Bonhams | Mar 2019 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 10 | $4,022 |
| Paintings | 5 | $3,418 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 10 | $2,904 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 38 results from 10 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Willie Bester is a South African artist with 69 auction lots recorded since 2007, median price $2,390. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by Willie Bester sold in 2026 for $3,418, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Willie Bester work worth?

Across 35 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Willie Bester work is $2,390.

The median Willie Bester painting sells for $1,386 across 11 lots.

The median Willie Bester work on paper sells for $1,304 across 6 lots.

The median Willie Bester sculpture sells for $2,272 across 3 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 | 1 | $169† | $169† | — | 2009-11-18 |
| Paintings | 13 | $1,386 | $4,740 | 84.6% | 2026-06-30 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $1,304† | $1,498 | — | 2026-02-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 3 | $2,272 | $2,517 | — | 2025-09-16 |
| Photography | 1 | $650† | $650† | — | 2025-07-24 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Willie Bester's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $169. Paintings (13 lots) median $1,386, record $4,740. A typical Willie Bester painting sells for around 8.2× the price of a typical print.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2026 | $4,740 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $4,250 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $2,517 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $2,026 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $1,498 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $1,110† |
| Photography | 2025 | $650† |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $169† |

† 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 Willie Bester worth?

Across 35 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Willie Bester work is $2,390. The median Willie Bester painting sells for $1,386 across 11 lots. The median Willie Bester work on paper sells for $1,304 across 6 lots. The median Willie Bester sculpture sells for $2,272 across 3 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a Willie Bester painting?

Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Willie Bester painting is $1,386.

### What is Willie Bester's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Willie Bester painting is $4,740.

### What is Willie Bester's auction record?

Willie Bester's auction record is $25,319, set in 2016.

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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, “Willie Bester auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/willie-bester (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.