John Olsen Pastels: Auction Prices

Australian · 1928–2023

ArtSell has recorded 22 auction results for John Olsen pastels between 2009 and 2025, of which 16 sold (73% sell-through). Prices realised range from $3,196 to $33,259, with a median of $9,786 across 16 priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). The highest recorded price is $33,259 for “Edge of the Void 2009” at Menzies in 2022.

Record: Edge of the Void 2009 — $33,259Sign up free to see

Price chart & statistics for John Olsen →

All pastels results

1. 
   Sealife 2012, 2012

   Pastel · Paper

   80.0 x 95.0 cm; 98.0 x 112.5 cm (framed)

   Menzies · Apr 9, 2025 · Lot 80
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$18,000–24,000View at Menzies ↗
2. 
   Salsa Ailioh, 2007

   Pastel · Paper

   28 x 40cm

   Leonard Joel · Jun 25, 2024 · Lot 8
   A$5,500≈ $3,658≈ £2,884≈ €3,414Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$6,000–9,000View at Leonard Joel ↗
3. 
   Aboriginal Education

   Pastel

   56x38cm (sheet)

   Davidson Auctions · Aug 20, 2023 · Lot 63
   A$5,000≈ $3,196≈ £2,505≈ €2,930HammerSign up free to seeEst. A$5,000–7,000View at Davidson Auctions ↗
4. 
   Man and Landscape

   Pastel · Paper

   555 x 725mm

   Art+Object · May 30, 2023 · Lot 59
   NZ$12,185≈ $7,390≈ £5,940≈ €6,878Price realizedSign up free to seeView at Art+Object ↗
5. 
   Monkeys 1982, 1982

   Pastel · Paper

   80.0 x 91.0 cm

   Menzies · Mar 29, 2023 · Lot 105
   A$14,114≈ $9,420≈ £7,641≈ €8,685Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$15,000–20,000View at Menzies ↗
6. 
   Edge of the Void 2009, 2009

   Pastel · Paper

   150.0 x 100.0 cm

   Menzies · Nov 23, 2022 · Lot 78
   A$50,000≈ $33,259≈ £27,820≈ €32,212HammerSign up free to seeEst. A$50,000–70,000View at Menzies ↗
7. 
   Thinking Monkey

   Pastel · Paper

   59.0 x 41.5 cm

   Menzies · Jun 29, 2022 · Lot 77
   A$14,727≈ $10,152≈ £8,346≈ €9,653Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$12,000–18,000View at Menzies ↗
8. 
   Vervet Monkeys

   Pastel · Paper

   93.0 x 64.0 cm

   Menzies · Mar 31, 2022 · Lot 84
   A$34,364≈ $25,725≈ £19,603≈ €23,173Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$15,000–20,000View at Menzies ↗
9. 
   Jumping Frogs 1983, 1983

   Pastel · Paper

   26.0 x 34.5 cm

   Menzies · Mar 31, 2022 · Lot 82
   A$9,205≈ $6,891≈ £5,251≈ €6,207Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$5,000–7,000View at Menzies ↗
10. 
    (Heart), 1965

    Pastel · Paper

    55 x 61cm

    Leonard Joel · Mar 17, 2020 · Lot 26
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$4,000–6,000View at Leonard Joel ↗
11. 
    Spider Monkeys (1990), 1990

    Pastel · Paper

    41.5 x 59 cm

    Smith & Singer · Oct 24, 2018 · Lot 7
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$6,000–9,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
12. 
    The Simpson Desert Joining Lake Eyre 1977, 1977

    Pastel · Board

    80 x 59.5 cm

    Smith & Singer · Jun 21, 2017 · Lot 183
    A$29,280≈ $22,146≈ £17,446≈ €19,867Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$8,000–12,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
13. 
    By The Sea, 1987

    Pastel · Paper

    77 x 58.5cm

    Leonard Joel · Sep 6, 2016 · Lot 21
    A$12,000≈ $9,156≈ £6,854≈ €8,205Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$12,000–18,000View at Leonard Joel ↗
14. 
    Monkey Looking at Numbers Passing By 1990, 1990

    Pastel · Paper

    103 x 65.8 cm

    Smith & Singer · May 10, 2016 · Lot 118
    A$14,030≈ $10,305≈ £7,135≈ €9,060Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$8,000–12,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
15. 
    Italian Kitchen 1999, 1999

    Pastel · Paper

    19.0 x 26.0 cm

    Menzies · Sep 24, 2015 · Lot 75
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$6,500–9,500View at Menzies ↗
16. 
    Cat 1969, 1969

    Pastel · Board

    55 x 74 cm

    Smith & Singer · Jul 21, 2015 · Lot 77
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$5,000–7,000View at Smith & Singer ↗
17. 
    Night Train to Lisbon 1966, 1966

    Pastel · Paper

    51.0 x 62.5 cm

    Menzies · Mar 22, 2012 · Lot 178
    A$12,273≈ $12,728≈ £8,055≈ €9,667Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$12,000–18,000View at Menzies ↗
18. 
    Honey Possum

    Pastel · Paper

    28.0 x 21.0 cm

    Menzies · Jun 23, 2011 · Lot 126
    A$5,155≈ $5,417≈ £3,391≈ €3,812Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$4,500–6,000View at Menzies ↗
19. 
    Pelican Rookery Lake Alexandrina 2002, 2002

    Pastel · Canvas

    134.0 x 121.0 cm

    Menzies · Jun 23, 2011 · Lot 114
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. A$45,000–65,000View at Menzies ↗
20. 
    (Cats) 1964, 1964

    Pastel · Paper

    27.5 x 37.5 cm

    Menzies · Dec 15, 2010 · Lot 6
    A$5,400≈ $5,369≈ £3,428≈ €4,019Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$5,000–8,000View at Menzies ↗
21. 
    Thinking Monkey

    Pastel · Paper

    59.0 x 41.5 cm

    Menzies · Mar 25, 2010 · Lot 7
    A$13,200≈ $12,060≈ £8,076≈ €9,029Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$10,000–14,000View at Menzies ↗
22. 
    Harbour View 1987, 1987

    Pastel · Paper

    56.5 x 76.0 cm

    Menzies · Mar 25, 2009 · Lot 49
    A$24,000≈ $16,771≈ £11,487≈ €12,429Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. A$16,000–24,000View at Menzies ↗

Other media by John Olsen

PaintingsWorks on PaperPrintsPhotographsSculptureOil PaintingsAcrylic PaintingsMixed MediaWatercolorsGouachesDrawingsEtchingsLithographs

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