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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, The Black Book, 1969, gold offset lithograph printed on black tissue paper and imaginary covers
    The Black Book, 1969
    Lithograph · Paper
    19¼ h x 14¼ w in (49 x 36 cm)
    Wright · · Lot 136
    $1,500≈ £1,009≈ €1,317Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,500–View at Wright ↗
  2. James Lee Byars, A White Paper Will Blow Through The Streets, 1967, Offset lithograph, on thin laid paper, with full margins,
    A White Paper Will Blow Through The Streets, 1967
    Lithograph · Paper
    diameter 26 3/4 in. (67.9 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 179
    $5,250≈ £3,526≈ €4,907Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,500–2,500View at Phillips ↗
  3. James Lee Byars, White Paper Will Blow Through the Streets, 1967, Offset lithograph
    White Paper Will Blow Through the Streets, 1967
    Lithograph
    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · · Lot 324
    $1,500≈ £987≈ €1,167Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,500–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
  4. James Lee Byars, A White Paper Will Blow Through the Streets, 1967, Offset lithograph
    A White Paper Will Blow Through the Streets, 1967
    Lithograph
    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · · Lot 49
    $1,875≈ £1,200≈ €1,401Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $2,000–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
  5. James Lee Byars, THE GERTRUDE STEIN BOOK, 1970 (4), offset lithograph in black on white paper with red envelope
    THE GERTRUDE STEIN BOOK, 1970 (4)
    Lithograph · Paper
    19 x 11in (48 x 28cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 146
    $1,080≈ £549≈ €699Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,500–2,000View at Bonhams ↗
  6. James Lee Byars, THE HUNDRED ONE PAGE BOOKS, 1975 (9), offset lithograph in gold on black paper with black linen cover
    THE HUNDRED ONE PAGE BOOKS, 1975 (9)
    Lithograph · Paper
    each 11 1/4 x 8 x 1/4in (28.5 x 20 x .6cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 147
    $600≈ £305≈ €388Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $5,000–7,000View at Bonhams ↗
  7. James Lee Byars, THE BLACK BOOK, 1971, offset lithograph in gold on black tissue paper
    THE BLACK BOOK, 1971
    Lithograph · Paper
    sheet 19 1/4 x 14 1/2in (49 x 36.5cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 258
    $1,560≈ £790≈ €1,160Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $500–800View at Bonhams ↗
  8. James Lee Byars, 100?'s, 1969, offset lithograph in black on white paper, 100 pages (unnumbered), white cover, black spine, Hudson Institute, New York
    100?'s, 1969
    Lithograph · Paper
    8 3/4 x 7in (22.2 x 17.8cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 259
    $4,800≈ £2,432≈ €3,568Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
  9. James Lee Byars, 100,000 MINUTES / OR THE BIG SAMPLE OF BYARS / OR 1/2 AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY / OR THE FIRST PAPER OF PHILOSOPHY, 1969, offset lithograph in black on pink paper
    100,000 MINUTES / OR THE BIG SAMPLE OF BYARS / OR 1/2 AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY / OR THE FIRST PAPER OF PHILOSOPHY, 1969
    Lithograph · Paper
    10 1/2 x 8 1/2in (26.8 x 20.8cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 260
    $780≈ £395≈ €580Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $600–800View at Bonhams ↗
  10. James Lee Byars, THE GERTRUDE STEIN BOOK, 1970, offset lithograph in black on white paper
    THE GERTRUDE STEIN BOOK, 1970
    Lithograph · Paper
    book 19 x 11in (48 x 28cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 261
    $660≈ £334≈ €491Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $500–700View at Bonhams ↗
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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