James Lee Byars Drawings: Auction Prices

American · 1932–1997

ArtSell has recorded 20 auction results for James Lee Byars drawings between 2004 and 2025, of which 18 sold (90% sell-through). Prices realised range from $195 to $125,000, with a median of $3,884 across 18 priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). A further 3 lots offered at auction whose result the house did not publish are listed but not counted. The highest recorded price is $125,000 for “Untitled” at Phillips in 2015.

Record: Untitled — $125,000Sign up free to see

Price chart & statistics for James Lee Byars →

All drawings results

1. 
   Home, 1980

   Drawing · Paper

   Paper 68 cm diameter; shells circa 5 cm diameter

   Kornfeld · Sep 9, 2025 · Lot 1085
   CHF 2,200≈ $2,769≈ £2,042≈ €2,358HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 1,500–View at Kornfeld ↗
2. 
   Money-Object 1/1979 (Black Pocket). - Money Object 2/1979, 1979

   Drawing · Paper

   24.5 cm, bag diameter

   Kornfeld · Sep 10, 2024 · Lot 1081
   CHF 1,600≈ $1,888≈ £1,442≈ €1,711HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 2,000–View at Kornfeld ↗
3. 
   Silver Stars

   Drawing · Paper

   50x50 cm

   Farsettiarte · Jun 1, 2024 · Lot 361
   Result not publishedEst. €5,000–8,000View at Farsettiarte ↗
4. 
   May We Invite You?, 1982

   Drawing

   48 cm, diameter; 10cm, ring width

   Kornfeld · Jun 2, 2023 · Lot 847
   CHF 700≈ $772≈ £616≈ €717HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 1,000–View at Kornfeld ↗
5. 
   L. To do one perfect thing, ..., Around 1993

   Drawing · Paper

   Each appro x . 12 x 50 cm; 113 x 57 cm, ple x iglass panels

   Kornfeld · Jun 3, 2022 · Lot 728
   CHF 2,400≈ $2,501≈ £1,991≈ €2,331HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 2,800–View at Kornfeld ↗
6. 
   Compositie, 1985–1987

   Drawing · Paper

   49 1/2 x 14 1/8 in. (125.7 x 35.9 cm)

   Phillips · May 19, 2022 · Lot 205
   $8,190≈ £6,593≈ €7,781Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $6,000–9,000View at Phillips ↗
7. 
   Lettera, 1988

   Drawing · Paper

   20x400 cm

   Farsettiarte · Jun 11, 2021 · Lot 381
   Result not publishedEst. €5,000–8,000View at Farsettiarte ↗
8. 
   text on vellum, c. 1975

   Drawing · Other support

   9 h x 9 w in (23 x 23 cm)

   Wright · Jul 18, 2019 · Lot 485
   $688≈ £551≈ €613Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $500–View at Wright ↗
9. 
   red paper cutout mailed to Tommy Longo, 1972

   Drawing · Paper

   11½ h x 4½ w in (29 x 11 cm)

   Wright · Jul 18, 2019 · Lot 488
   $293≈ £235≈ €261Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300–View at Wright ↗
10. 
    collection of three announcements and envelope

    Drawing · Paper

    11 h x 8½ w in (28 x 22 cm)

    Wright · Jul 18, 2019 · Lot 482
    $195≈ £156≈ €174Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300–View at Wright ↗
11. 
    letter mailed to Tommy Longo, 1976

    Drawing · Paper

    4½ h x 6½ w in (11 x 17 cm)

    Wright · Jul 18, 2019 · Lot 486
    $195≈ £156≈ €174Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300–View at Wright ↗
12. 
    PIITL (Perfect is in the Louvre), 1990

    Drawing · Board

    12½ h x 22 w in (32 x 56 cm)

    Wright · Sep 27, 2018 · Lot 119
    $5,000≈ £3,800≈ €4,271Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $5,000–View at Wright ↗
13. 
    Untitled, c. 1980

    Drawing · Paper

    25½ h x 19½ w in (65 x 50 cm)

    Wright · Jan 18, 2018 · Lot 202
    $9,375≈ £6,759≈ €7,662Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $3,000–View at Wright ↗
14. 
    Eros (The Moon), 1994

    Drawing · Paper

    overall 80 in. (203.2 cm)

    Phillips · Nov 10, 2015 · Lot 123
    $18,750≈ £12,401≈ €17,505Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $20,000–30,000View at Phillips ↗
15. 
    IDK (I don't know), 1986

    Drawing · Paper

    25 7/8 x 18 7/8 in. (66 x 48 cm)

    Phillips · Nov 10, 2015 · Lot 122
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. $15,000–20,000View at Phillips ↗
16. 
    Ohne Titel (2-teilig)

    Drawing · Paper

    76 x 55cm

    Van Ham · Jun 17, 2015 · Lot 308
    €1,636≈ $1,845≈ £1,173Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €600–View at Van Ham ↗
17. 
    Eros, 1993

    Drawing · Paper

    26 3/4 x 66 7/8 in. (68 x 170 cm)

    Phillips · May 15, 2015 · Lot 134
    $81,250≈ £51,722≈ €71,725Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $80,000–120,000View at Phillips ↗
18. 
    Untitled, circa 1958

    Drawing · Paper

    36 x 36 in. (91.4 x 91.4 cm)

    Phillips · May 15, 2015 · Lot 133
    $125,000≈ £79,572≈ €110,346Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $40,000–60,000View at Phillips ↗
19. 
    Lotto di due opere «The snake», 1989

    Drawing · Paper

    2,5x21 cm

    Farsettiarte · Dec 1, 2012 · Lot 203
    Result not publishedEst. €1,200–1,800View at Farsettiarte ↗
20. 
    Untitled

    Drawing · Paper

    24.6 x 209 cm

    Lempertz · May 29, 2009 · Lot 346
    €7,440≈ $10,489≈ £6,494Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €8,000–10,000View at Lempertz ↗
21. 
    Beauty goes fast, 1987

    Drawing

    29,5 x 20,5 cm

    Lempertz · May 30, 2008 · Lot 461
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. €6,000–8,000View at Lempertz ↗
22. 
    Letter

    Drawing · Paper

    16 1/2 x 46 1/2in (42 x 118cm)

    Bonhams · May 22, 2007 · Lot 265
    $20,400≈ £10,337≈ €15,163Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,500–2,500View at Bonhams ↗
23. 
    untitled, 1990-1991

    Drawing

    12 h x 13 w in (30 x 33 cm)

    Wright · May 16, 2004 · Lot 373
    $5,015≈ £2,835≈ €4,171Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $2,000–View at Wright ↗

Other media by James Lee Byars

Works on PaperPrintsSculptureMixed MediaWatercolorsLithographs

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