What is a John Olsen work worth?
1928–2023 · Price guide from past auction results
Half of the 407 works by John Olsen with a published auction price sold between $928Sign up free to see and $21,499Sign up free to see, and the median is $2,905Sign up free to see. In the last five years the median was $2,442Sign up free to see across 169 sales. These are past auction results, not a valuation: medium, size, condition and provenance all change what a particular work brings.
Thinking of selling? How to sell a John Olsen work: process, costs and recent prices →
John Olsen prices by medium
- Auction results
- 489
- Sold rate
- 83%
- Active at auction
- 2009–2026
- Median price
- $2.9kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $741kSign up free to see Seafood Paella 2007, Smith & Singer, Apr 2019
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prints | 183 | $571–$1.5kSign up free to see | $867Sign up free to see |
| Works on Paper | 129 | $5.8k–$35.9kSign up free to see | $16.6kSign up free to see |
| Paintings | 61 | $25.6k–$168kSign up free to see | $70.9kSign up free to see |
| Sculpture | 21 | $5.2k–$13.7kSign up free to see | $8.5kSign up free to see |
| Photographs | 9 | $1.4k–$1.9kSign up free to see | $1.6kSign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Menzies (179), Leonard Joel (178), Smith & Singer (78)
Need an appraisal for insurance? Request a written John Olsen appraisal →
Typical range is the middle half of priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). Past auction results, not a valuation.
Prices by size
| Size (longest side) | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 30 cm) | 56 | $487–$2.8kSign up free to see | $830Sign up free to see |
| Mid-size (30–75 cm) | 171 | $679–$6.4kSign up free to see | $1.6kSign up free to see |
| Large (75–150 cm) | 128 | $1.6k–$33.9kSign up free to see | $12.1kSign up free to see |
| Very large (over 150 cm) | 42 | $71k–$200kSign up free to see | $132kSign up free to see |
Recent John Olsen sales
- Bird at the Window, oil on canvas — $13,964Sign up free to see, Leonard Joel, Oct 6, 2026
- Rudy Komon at 70, etching, ed. 29/50 — $108Sign up free to see, Leonard Joel, Sep 8, 2026
- (Leaping Frog) 2004-05, bronze — $40,591Sign up free to see, Menzies, Aug 27, 2026
- Wattle and the Chasing Bird Landscape 2009, oil on canvas — $167,658Sign up free to see, Menzies, Aug 27, 2026
- Bird in a Landscape 1990, oil on canvas — $175,581Sign up free to see, Smith & Singer, Aug 25, 2026
- Lucio's, Etching & Aquatint 27/60 — $385Sign up free to see, Davidson Auctions, Jul 27, 2026
- Running Giraffes, Mixed Media on Paper — $11,879Sign up free to see, Davidson Auctions, Jul 26, 2026
- Brett Whiteley about to Pounce, lithograph, ed. 46/100 — $2,946Sign up free to see, Leonard Joel, Jun 19, 2026
Questions about John Olsen prices
What is a John Olsen work worth?
Based on 407 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by John Olsen have sold for a median of $2,905, and half of them sold between $928 and $21,499. Medium, size, condition, subject and provenance all affect the price of a particular work; these are past auction results, not a valuation.
What is the most expensive work by John Olsen sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $741,030 for “Seafood Paella 2007” at Smith & Singer in April 2019.
Which John Olsen medium sells for the most?
By median price, paintings lead with $70,914 (61 sales).
How often do John Olsen works sell at auction?
83% of the 489 lots recorded between 2009 and 2026 sold.
How can I sell a John Olsen work?
Request a free auction estimate on ArtSell: send photos and details, and our specialists will reply with an estimate. There is no obligation.
Of the 489 lots by John Olsen recorded at auction between 2009 and 2026, 407 found a buyer (83%).
Sell a John Olsen workAll John Olsen auction resultsPrice chartJohn Olsen printsJohn Olsen works on paperJohn Olsen paintingsJohn Olsen sculptureJohn Olsen photographsFree auction estimate