James Lee Byars Works on Paper: Auction Prices

American · 1932–1997

ArtSell has recorded 45 auction results for James Lee Byars works on paper between 2004 and 2025, of which 39 sold (87% sell-through). Prices realised range from $195 to $125,000, with a median of $5,000 across 39 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 works on paper 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. 
   No Basel Today, 1981

   Gouache · Paper

   39.5 x 22 cm

   Kornfeld · Sep 9, 2025 · Lot 1082
   CHF 600≈ $755≈ £557≈ €643HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 800–View at Kornfeld ↗
3. 
   24hrs of Byars at Bellamy, 1957

   Seidenpapier, gefaltet und geklebt · Paper

   170 x 143 x Bezeichnung: Betitelt, bezeichnet und datiert auf dem Penis: 24 hRS ofByaRS atBellamy ... (unleserlich) 57

   Van Ham · Oct 1, 2024 · Lot 85
   €1,584≈ $1,756≈ £1,318Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €600–View at Van Ham ↗
4. 
   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 ↗
5. 
   Silver Stars

   Drawing · Paper

   50x50 cm

   Farsettiarte · Jun 1, 2024 · Lot 361
   Result not publishedEst. €5,000–8,000View at Farsettiarte ↗
6. 
   Diamond Dust, 1978

   Circle of black tissue paper, folded several times, a touch of diamond dust in the centre · Paper

   Diameter 145 cm, folded to 18.5 x 18.5 cm

   Kornfeld · Jun 15, 2023 · Lot 601
   CHF 5,000≈ $5,542≈ £4,382≈ €5,122HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 5,000–View at Kornfeld ↗
7. 
   Gold Dust is my Ex Libris, 1983

   Object made from paper pages · Paper

   15 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm

   Kornfeld · Jun 2, 2023 · Lot 849
   CHF 600≈ $662≈ £528≈ €615HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 500–View at Kornfeld ↗
8. 
   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 ↗
9. 
   Ohne Titel, Around 1981

   Mixed media · Paper

   51.5 x 70 cm

   Kornfeld · Jun 2, 2023 · Lot 840
   CHF 2,000≈ $2,206≈ £1,761≈ €2,050HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 3,000–View at Kornfeld ↗
10. 
    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 ↗
11. 
    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 ↗
12. 
    The 5 Continent Documenta 7, 1979

    Black tissue paper with gold lettering, folded · Paper

    Ca. 216 x 124 cm

    Kornfeld · Sep 16, 2021 · Lot 575
    CHF 5,500≈ $5,943≈ £4,296≈ €5,053HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 4,000–View at Kornfeld ↗
13. 
    Luck, 1975

    Mixed media · Paper

    49 x 49 cm

    Kornfeld · Sep 3, 2021 · Lot 829
    CHF 3,500≈ $3,825≈ £2,766≈ €3,222HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 2,000–View at Kornfeld ↗
14. 
    Lettera, 1988

    Drawing · Paper

    20x400 cm

    Farsettiarte · Jun 11, 2021 · Lot 381
    Result not publishedEst. €5,000–8,000View at Farsettiarte ↗
15. 
    text on metallic gold paper, c. 1975

    handwritten text on reflective gold origami paper · Paper

    6 h x 6 w in (15 x 15 cm)

    Wright · Jul 18, 2019 · Lot 476
    $1,625≈ £1,302≈ €1,449Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $2,000–View at Wright ↗
16. 
    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 ↗
17. 
    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 ↗
18. 
    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 ↗
19. 
    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 ↗
20. 
    letter mailed to Tommy Longo, 1975

    handwritten text on black tissue paper, handwritten text on black envelope · Paper

    20 h x 19½ w in (51 x 50 cm)

    Wright · Jul 18, 2019 · Lot 474
    $2,250≈ £1,802≈ €2,006Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $2,000–View at Wright ↗
21. 
    letter mailed to Tommy Longo, c. 1975

    handwritten text on yellow self-enveloping paper · Paper

    13 h x 10½ w in (33 x 27 cm)

    Wright · Jul 18, 2019 · Lot 458
    $2,000≈ £1,602≈ €1,783Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $2,000–View at Wright ↗
22. 
    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 ↗
23. 
    Penis Letter to Jon Thompson, 1985

    Watercolor · Paper

    107 x 38.3 cm (42 1/8 x 15 1/8 in.)

    Phillips · Jun 26, 2018 · Lot 146
    £10,000≈ $13,240≈ €11,343Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £8,000–12,000View at Phillips ↗
24. 
    TSOL, 1986

    gold pen on coloured paper · Paper

    104.4 x 29 cm (41 1/8 x 11 3/8 in.)

    Phillips · Mar 9, 2018 · Lot 140
    £10,000≈ $13,827≈ €11,250Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £8,000–12,000View at Phillips ↗
25. 
    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 ↗
26. 
    Untitled (...Sweet Marie Puck...), 1985

    Watercolor · Paper

    19 x 231.5 cm

    Lempertz · Dec 3, 2016 · Lot 609
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. €12,000–View at Lempertz ↗
27. 
    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 ↗
28. 
    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 ↗
29. 
    The Black Paper on Art, 1987

    Gold leaf, on tissue paper, with full margins, · Paper

    diameter 9 3/8 in. (23.8 cm)

    Phillips · Oct 26, 2015 · Lot 270
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. $4,000–6,000View at Phillips ↗
30. 
    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 ↗
31. 
    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 ↗
32. 
    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 ↗
33. 
    The Black Paper on Art, 1987

    gold leaf on paper · Paper

    diameter 9 in. (23 cm)

    Phillips · Mar 4, 2015 · Lot 154
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. $8,000–12,000View at Phillips ↗
34. 
    Four in a Dress proposal, 1967

    Double-sided typset on paper · Paper

    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · Mar 1, 2015 · Lot 97
    $11,250≈ £7,309≈ €10,020Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
35. 
    Casa Stefani Venice, 1980s

    Five works: each felt-tip pen on letter paper with carbon copy paper from the Maximilian Krips Galerie, Cologne, . Each · Paper

    29.8 x 21 cm

    Lempertz · May 31, 2014 · Lot 623
    €2,928≈ $3,984≈ £2,381Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €3,000–4,000View at Lempertz ↗
36. 
    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 ↗
37. 
    Ohne Titel, Um 1990

    Goldstift auf vom Künstler rot gefärbter Papierbahn, in goldfarbenes dünnes Papier gewickelt

    428 × 39,4 cm

    Grisebach · Nov 25, 2011 · Lot 554
    €4,880≈ $6,456≈ £4,177Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €4,000–6,000View at Grisebach ↗
38. 
    Golden Sphere, 1991

    Goldstift auf dünnem schwarzen Seidenpapier. Durchmesser: ca. 47,5 cm (approx. 18 ¾ in.)

    Grisebach · Nov 27, 2010 · Lot 396
    €5,490≈ $7,261≈ £4,638Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €3,000–4,000View at Grisebach ↗
39. 
    Ohne Titel, Um 1982

    Goldstift auf rot bemaltem, vom Künstler gefalteten Papier, im Künstlerrahmen

    100 × 39 cm

    Grisebach · Nov 28, 2009 · Lot 350
    €7,735≈ $11,539≈ £7,032Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €4,000–6,000View at Grisebach ↗
40. 
    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 ↗
41. 
    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 ↗
42. 
    The poet's glass. The poet's glass. I.D.L.W.S. The Page cushion. The bullet hole hat, Burned writing fingers and stabbed white shoes. The poet's belgium stone. The 7 daggers

    Watercolor

    123 x 93 cm

    Lempertz · May 30, 2008 · Lot 460
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. €120,000–View at Lempertz ↗
43. 
    Untitled

    red paper, gold thread, pink fabric · Paper

    approximately 1000 x 21 3/4in (2540 x 53.3cm)

    Bonhams · May 5, 2008 · Lot 148
    $600≈ £305≈ €388Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $2,000–3,000View at Bonhams ↗
44. 
    7 („1 and 2 were great But 3´s for me...“), Um 1982

    Mit Goldstift geschriebener Text auf rotem Papier, mit Umschlag

    122 × 62,5 cm

    Grisebach · Dec 1, 2007 · Lot 439
    €5,950≈ $8,783≈ £4,252Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €9,000–12,000View at Grisebach ↗
45. 
    Ohne Titel. Späte 1980er Jahre

    Goldstift auf Papier im Künstlerrahmen

    108,5 × 38,8 cm

    Grisebach · Dec 1, 2007 · Lot 440
    €8,330≈ $12,296≈ £5,952Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €7,000–9,000View at Grisebach ↗
46. 
    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 ↗
47. 
    Untitled

    red paper with gold thread · Paper

    approximately 1000 x 21 3/4in (2540 x 53.3cm)

    Bonhams · May 22, 2007 · Lot 262
    $15,600≈ £7,905≈ €11,595Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $3,000–4,000View at Bonhams ↗
48. 
    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

PrintsSculptureMixed MediaWatercolorsDrawingsLithographs

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