John Olsen Paintings: Auction Prices

Australian · 1928–2023

ArtSell has recorded 83 auction results for John Olsen paintings between 2009 and 2026, of which 61 sold (73% sell-through). Prices realised range from $1,582 to $741,030, with a median of $70,914 across 61 priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). The highest recorded price is $741,030 for “Seafood Paella 2007” at Smith & Singer in 2019.

Record: Seafood Paella 2007 — $741,030Sign up free to see

Price chart & statistics for John Olsen →

All paintings results

1. 
   Sweeping St Mark’s Square, Venice 1993-94, 1993-94

   Oil · Canvas

   106.5 x 122.0 cm

   Menzies · Apr 26, 2018 · Lot 23
   A$85,909≈ $65,049≈ £46,564≈ €53,459Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$80,000–100,000View at Menzies ↗
2. 
   Jean de Florette 1989, 1989

   Oil · Canvas

   182.5 x 244.0 cm

   Menzies · Nov 30, 2017 · Lot 40
   A$326,945≈ $247,396≈ £183,705≈ €208,791Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$300,000–400,000View at Menzies ↗
3. 
   Spoonbills on the Murray 1971, 1971

   Oil · Board

   87 x 95.5 cm

   Smith & Singer · Nov 21, 2017 · Lot 7
   A$84,180≈ $63,780≈ £48,168≈ €54,429Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$50,000–70,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
4. 
   Murray Flowing into Lake Alexandrina 1980-82, 1980-82

   Oil · Canvas

   161.0 x 167.0 cm

   Menzies · Aug 10, 2017 · Lot 38
   A$184,091≈ $145,067≈ £111,659≈ €123,651Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$140,000–180,000View at Menzies ↗
5. 
   Grevilleas and Tableland c1981-82, c1981-82

   Oil · Canvas

   122.0 x 152.0 cm

   Menzies · Feb 9, 2017 · Lot 32
   A$104,318≈ $79,869≈ £63,560≈ €74,700Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$90,000–120,000View at Menzies ↗
6. 
   Life Approaching the Void 1978, 1978

   Oil · Canvas

   178 x 183 cm

   Smith & Singer · May 11, 2016 · Lot 150
   A$170,800≈ $125,931≈ £87,155≈ €110,379Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$140,000–180,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
7. 
   Untitled 1969, 1969

   Oil · Board

   91.0 x 121.0 cm

   Menzies · Mar 23, 2016 · Lot 38
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$70,000–90,000View at Menzies ↗
8. 
   The Squid at Sunset 2005, 2005

   Oil · Board

   35.0 x 40.0 cm

   Menzies · Dec 10, 2015 · Lot 98
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$14,000–18,000View at Menzies ↗
9. 
   Moon and Wattle Blossom Night 1980, 1980

   Oil · Canvas

   106.0 x 121.0 cm

   Menzies · Dec 10, 2015 · Lot 47
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$80,000–100,000View at Menzies ↗
10. 
    Vase of Flowers

    Oil · Board

    30.5 x 22.0 cm

    Menzies · Sep 24, 2015 · Lot 170
    A$9,818≈ $6,835≈ £4,492≈ €6,080Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$10,000–15,000View at Menzies ↗
11. 
    The Little Flounder

    Oil · Canvas

    39.0 x 49.5 cm

    Menzies · Sep 24, 2015 · Lot 154
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$10,000–15,000View at Menzies ↗
12. 
    Mallee Road to Nhill I 1981, 1981

    Oil · Canvas

    152.0 x 136.0 cm

    Menzies · Sep 24, 2015 · Lot 51
    A$99,409≈ $69,206≈ £45,479≈ €61,565Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$100,000–140,000View at Menzies ↗
13. 
    The Mother 1964, 1964

    Oil · Canvas

    166 x 212cm

    Smith & Singer · Apr 28, 2015 · Lot 81
    A$219,600≈ $174,490≈ £114,172≈ €159,687Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$180,000–220,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
14. 
    Lake Alexandrina and Dirt Roads 1997-1998, 1997-1998

    Oil · Canvas

    199 x 183 cm

    Smith & Singer · Apr 28, 2015 · Lot 62
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$140,000–180,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
15. 
    Captain Dobbin 1973, 1973

    Oil · Board

    183 x 228.5 cm

    Smith & Singer · Apr 28, 2015 · Lot 17
    A$402,600≈ $319,898≈ £209,316≈ €292,759Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$300,000–500,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
16. 
    JOHN OLSEN (born 1928) Untitled mixed media on paper signed lower right: J.O. 43 x 57cm

    Mixed media

    Leonard Joel · Mar 24, 2015 · Lot 90
    A$2,000≈ $1,582≈ £1,061≈ €1,445Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$2,000–3,000View at Leonard Joel ↗
17. 
    Self Portrait (The Afternoon Walk, Dunmoochin) 1969, 1969

    Oil · Board

    183.0 x 122.0 cm

    Menzies · Dec 11, 2014 · Lot 32
    A$85,909≈ $70,914≈ £45,231≈ €57,060Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$70,000–90,000View at Menzies ↗
18. 
    Evening Landscape with Fish Shaped 'Mine' 1985, 1985

    Oil · Canvas

    74.0 x 89.0 cm

    Menzies · Jul 24, 2014 · Lot 21
    A$22,091≈ $20,853≈ £12,261≈ €15,479Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$26,000–32,000View at Menzies ↗
19. 
    (Untitled)

    Mixed media · Board

    55.5 x 75.5 cm

    Smith & Singer · Apr 15, 2014 · Lot 300
    A$12,200≈ $11,458≈ £6,849≈ €8,301Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$8,000–12,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
20. 
    (Untitled) 1969, 1969

    Oil · Board

    59 x 40 cm

    Smith & Singer · Apr 15, 2014 · Lot 299
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$8,000–12,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
21. 
    Fire in the Kimberley 1982, 1982

    Oil · Canvas

    151.0 x 136.0 cm

    Menzies · Mar 20, 2014 · Lot 51
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$100,000–140,000View at Menzies ↗
22. 
    Untitled 1969, 1969

    Oil · Board

    91.0 x 121.0 cm

    Menzies · Mar 20, 2014 · Lot 36
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$90,000–120,000View at Menzies ↗
23. 
    GOYA'S DOG AND THE PAELLA 1986, 1986

    Oil · Canvas

    Smith & Singer · Aug 27, 2013 · Lot 28
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$200,000–300,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
24. 
    THE DESERT WIND 1983, 1983

    Oil · Canvas

    Smith & Singer · Aug 27, 2013 · Lot 2
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$160,000–200,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
25. 
    Marine Still-life 2006, 2006

    Oil · Canvas

    129.5 x 183.0 cm

    Menzies · Sep 13, 2012 · Lot 41
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$100,000–140,000View at Menzies ↗
26. 
    Octopus, Still Life, Greece 2008, 2008

    Oil · Canvas

    35.0 x 45.0 cm

    Menzies · Mar 22, 2012 · Lot 138
    A$14,114≈ $14,638≈ £9,264≈ €11,117Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$14,000–18,000View at Menzies ↗
27. 
    Landscape in Series 1994, 1994

    Oil · Canvas

    138.0 x 183.0 cm

    Menzies · Dec 8, 2011 · Lot 28
    A$152,727≈ $157,416≈ £100,105≈ €117,387Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$140,000–180,000View at Menzies ↗
28. 
    Young Miner 1985, 1985

    Oil · Canvas

    91.0 x 75.5 cm

    Menzies · Sep 14, 2011 · Lot 61
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$60,000–80,000View at Menzies ↗
29. 
    Self Portrait by the Sea

    Oil · Canvas

    152.0 x 137.0 cm

    Menzies · Jun 24, 2010 · Lot 44
    A$150,000≈ $129,720≈ £86,590≈ €105,790Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$110,000–150,000View at Menzies ↗
30. 
    Self Portrait (The Afternoon Walk, Dunmoochin) 1969, 1969

    Oil · Board

    183.0 x 122.0 cm

    Menzies · Dec 16, 2009 · Lot 41
    A$84,000≈ $75,594≈ £46,178≈ €51,919Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$70,000–90,000View at Menzies ↗
31. 
    Landscape and Night Heron c1982, c1982

    Oil · Canvas

    136.0 x 182.5 cm

    Menzies · Sep 23, 2009 · Lot 33
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$220,000–300,000View at Menzies ↗
32. 
    Bean Festival 2007, 2007

    Oil · Canvas

    182.0 x 200.0 cm

    Menzies · Jun 24, 2009 · Lot 42
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$220,000–260,000View at Menzies ↗
33. 
    Where the Wattle Stains the Doubting Heart c1979-80, c1979-80

    Oil · Canvas

    137.0 x 152.0 cm

    Menzies · Jun 24, 2009 · Lot 34
    A$210,000≈ $167,717≈ £101,536≈ €119,550Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$180,000–220,000View at Menzies ↗

Other media by John Olsen

Works on PaperPrintsPhotographsSculptureOil PaintingsAcrylic PaintingsMixed MediaWatercolorsGouachesPastelsDrawingsEtchingsLithographs

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