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

# Wolfgang Tillmans (b. 1968)

## What is Wolfgang Tillmans’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 738 auction results for Wolfgang Tillmans at 39 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $18,060 including buyer’s premium (middle half $8,468–$38,100, n=121). The auction record is $784,733 for Freischwimmer #84 (2017, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freischwimmer #84, 2004 | Hand coloring | $784,733 | Phillips | Jun 2017 |
| 2 | Greifbar 27, 2014 | Chromogenic print mounted on aluminium, in artist's frame | $645,589 | Phillips | Mar 2018 |
| 3 | Einzelgänger VIII, 2003 | Hand coloring | $568,777 | Phillips | Oct 2017 |
| 4 | Freischwimmer 99, 2004 | Hand coloring | $534,155 | Phillips | Oct 2019 |
| 5 | Paper Drop (Star), 2006 | C-print in artist’s frame | $513,534 | Christie's | Oct 2017 |
| 6 | Freischwimmer 120, 2006 | C-print in artist's frame | $482,153 | Christie's | Oct 2017 |
| 7 | Urgency XVI, 2006 | Hand coloring | $456,325 | Christie's | Oct 2017 |
| 8 | Mental Picture #52, 2000 | Inkjet-Print | $408,684 | Van Ham Kunstauktionen | Nov 2022 |
| 9 | Urgency XII, 2006 | Hand coloring | $396,587 | Christie's | Mar 2019 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freischwimmer 102, 2004 | Chromogenic print | $403,500 | Christie's | May 2017 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 268 | $17,765 |
| Works on paper | 43 | $14,478 |
| Photographs | 315 | $13,750 |
| Prints | 13 | $460 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 135 | $83,850 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 155 | $18,184 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 337 | $8,658 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 738 results from 39 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Wolfgang Tillmans is a German artist with 839 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $12,600. 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 Wolfgang Tillmans sold in 2026 for $24,270, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**3 Wolfgang Tillmans works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Wolfgang Tillmans on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/wolfgang-tillmans?ref=kg:wolfgang-tillmans) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Wolfgang Tillmans work worth?

Across 738 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wolfgang Tillmans work is $12,600.

The median Wolfgang Tillmans photograph sells for $12,566 across 540 lots.

The median Wolfgang Tillmans print sells for $13,299 across 145 lots.

The median Wolfgang Tillmans sculpture sells for $37,627 across 14 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Wolfgang Tillmans photographs typically sell for $4,882–$14,045 (the middle half of 310 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Wolfgang Tillmans photographs typically sell for $9,652–$40,874 (the middle half of 118 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 | 160 | $13,299‡ | $323,323 | 90.6% | 2026-10-20 |
| Works on Paper | 10 | $4,960 | $26,479 | — | 2024-02-29 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 17 | $37,627 | $645,589 | 82.4% | 2026-10-15 |
| Photography | 587 | $12,566†‡ | $784,733 | 92% | 2026-10-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 65 | $207,852‡ | $784,733 | — | 2026-10-01 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 69 | $1,933–$17,696‡ | $10,320‡ | $48,260 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 35 | $491–$21,764‡ | $4,645‡ | $95,250 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 28 | $48,525–$168,048 | $81,526 | $323,323 |

‡ 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) | 9 | $2,629–$8,009 | $6,096 | $26,479 |

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $27,718–$37,384 | $31,700 | $64,432 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $79,332–$302,400 | $134,749 | $645,589 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 310 | $4,882–$14,045†‡ | $8,125†‡ | $120,588 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 118 | $9,652–$40,874‡ | $17,842‡ | $123,281 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 102 | $54,113–$212,613‡ | $90,751‡ | $784,733 |

† 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 | 2017 | $784,733 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $645,589 |
| Photography | 2017 | $568,777 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $323,323 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $310,235 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $302,400 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $26,479 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $17,930 |

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 Wolfgang Tillmans worth?

Across 738 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wolfgang Tillmans work is $12,600. The median Wolfgang Tillmans photograph sells for $12,566 across 540 lots. The median Wolfgang Tillmans print sells for $13,299 across 145 lots. The median Wolfgang Tillmans sculpture sells for $37,627 across 14 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Wolfgang Tillmans photographs typically sell for $4,882–$14,045 (the middle half of 310 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Wolfgang Tillmans photographs typically sell for $9,652–$40,874 (the middle half of 118 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 Wolfgang Tillmans photograph?

Based on 540 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wolfgang Tillmans photograph is $12,566. 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 Wolfgang Tillmans's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Wolfgang Tillmans photograph is $784,733.

### What is the average price of a Wolfgang Tillmans print?

Based on 145 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wolfgang Tillmans print is $13,299. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Wolfgang Tillmans's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Wolfgang Tillmans print is $323,323.

### What is the average price of a Wolfgang Tillmans sculpture?

Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wolfgang Tillmans sculpture is $37,627.

### What is Wolfgang Tillmans's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Wolfgang Tillmans sculpture is $645,589.

### What is the average price of a small Wolfgang Tillmans photograph?

Based on 310 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Wolfgang Tillmans photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $8,125, 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 the average price of a medium Wolfgang Tillmans photograph?

Based on 118 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Wolfgang Tillmans photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $17,842, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Wolfgang Tillmans's auction record?

Wolfgang Tillmans's auction record is $784,733, set in 2017.

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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, “Wolfgang Tillmans auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/wolfgang-tillmans (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.