James Lee Byars

American · 1932–1997 · Sculptor, Draughtsman

James Lee Byars was an American conceptual artist and performance artist specializing in installations and sculptures, as well as a self-considered mystic. He was best known… (Wikipedia)

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94lots offered2004–2025years recorded93%sold (85)$2.2kSign up free to seemedian price

Record prices

  1. James Lee Byars, The Figure of Death, 1986, basalt, 10 pieces on gilded steel pedestalThe Figure of DeathPhillips · $761,000≈ £481,890≈ €666,433Sign up to see
  2. James Lee Byars, Eros, 1992, Thassos marble, 2 piecesErosPhillips · $425,000≈ £269,124≈ €372,187Sign up to see
  3. James Lee Byars, Untitled, circa 1958, Japanese ink on Japanese rice paperUntitledPhillips · $125,000≈ £79,572≈ €110,346Sign up to see

James Lee Byars’s highest prices recorded at auction, ranked in US dollars at each sale-date exchange rate and shown in the currency of the sale (with the buyer’s premium where the house publishes it).

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  1. James Lee Byars, Home, 1980, Gold paper, folded several times, inscribed in pencil and with 7 shells in ascending size
    Home, 1980
    Drawing · Paper
    Paper 68 cm diameter; shells circa 5 cm diameter
    Kornfeld · · Lot 1085
    CHF 2,200≈ $2,769≈ £2,042≈ €2,358HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 1,500–View at Kornfeld ↗
  2. James Lee Byars, Money-Object 1/1979 (Black Pocket). - Money Object 2/1979, 1979, 30 tens of notes bundled and wrapped with pink angora thread in a circular bag made of black paper. -
    Money-Object 1/1979 (Black Pocket). - Money Object 2/1979, 1979
    Drawing · Paper
    24.5 cm, bag diameter
    Kornfeld · · Lot 1081
    CHF 1,600≈ $1,888≈ £1,442≈ €1,711HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 2,000–View at Kornfeld ↗
  3. James Lee Byars, May We Invite You?, 1982, Monogrammed "JLBB" in the context of the invitation
    May We Invite You?, 1982
    Drawing
    48 cm, diameter; 10cm, ring width
    Kornfeld · · Lot 847
    CHF 700≈ $772≈ £616≈ €717HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 1,000–View at Kornfeld ↗
  4. James Lee Byars, L. To do one perfect thing, ..., Around 1993, White pencil on black tissue paper
    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 · · Lot 728
    CHF 2,400≈ $2,501≈ £1,991≈ €2,331HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 2,800–View at Kornfeld ↗
  5. James Lee Byars, Compositie, 1985–1987, graphite and gold leaf on red paper, in artist's frame
    Compositie, 1985–1987
    Drawing · Paper
    49 1/2 x 14 1/8 in. (125.7 x 35.9 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 205
    $8,190≈ £6,593≈ €7,781Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $6,000–9,000View at Phillips ↗
  6. James Lee Byars, collection of three announcements and envelope, ink on printed and embossed paper
    collection of three announcements and envelope
    Drawing · Paper
    11 h x 8½ w in (28 x 22 cm)
    Wright · · Lot 482
    $195≈ £156≈ €174Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300–View at Wright ↗
  7. James Lee Byars, text on vellum, c. 1975, ink on vellum
    text on vellum, c. 1975
    Drawing · Other support
    9 h x 9 w in (23 x 23 cm)
    Wright · · Lot 485
    $688≈ £551≈ €613Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $500–View at Wright ↗
  8. James Lee Byars, letter mailed to Tommy Longo, 1976, ink on paper, printed paper
    letter mailed to Tommy Longo, 1976
    Drawing · Paper
    4½ h x 6½ w in (11 x 17 cm)
    Wright · · Lot 486
    $195≈ £156≈ €174Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300–View at Wright ↗
  9. James Lee Byars, red paper cutout mailed to Tommy Longo, 1972, pencil on colored paper, hand-cut colored paper
    red paper cutout mailed to Tommy Longo, 1972
    Drawing · Paper
    11½ h x 4½ w in (29 x 11 cm)
    Wright · · Lot 488
    $293≈ £235≈ €261Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300–View at Wright ↗
  10. James Lee Byars, PIITL (Perfect is in the Louvre), 1990, ink on cardboard
    PIITL (Perfect is in the Louvre), 1990
    Drawing · Board
    12½ h x 22 w in (32 x 56 cm)
    Wright · · Lot 119
    $5,000≈ £3,800≈ €4,271Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $5,000–View at Wright ↗
Also offered, result not published (3)

Lots by James Lee Byars that were offered at auction where the house did not publish whether they sold. Not counted in any statistics.

James Lee Byars works on paper (45)James Lee Byars watercolors (3)James Lee Byars drawings (20)James Lee Byars prints (19)James Lee Byars lithographs (13)James Lee Byars sculpture (3)

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