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Lester Johnson

Lester Johnson

American · 1919–2010 · Painter, Printmaker

Lester Johnson was an American artist and educator. Johnson was a member of the Second Generation of the New York School during the late 1950s. The subject of much of his work… (Wikipedia)

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45lots offered2003–2026years recorded92%sold (36)$1.5kSign up free to seemedian price

Record prices

  1. Lester Johnson, Untitled, 1970-1975, Oil on CanvasUntitledDuMouchelles · $6,000≈ £4,466≈ €5,137Sign up to see
  2. Lester Johnson, Two Heads, 1964, oil on canvasTwo HeadsWright · $4,688≈ £3,613≈ €4,046Sign up to see
  3. Lester Johnson, Three Heads, 1961, oil on paper laid to boardThree HeadsWright · $4,410≈ £3,552≈ €4,030Sign up to see

Lester Johnson’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).

ArtSell has recorded 39 auction results for Lester Johnson between 2003 and 2026, of which 36 sold (92%). A further 6 lots were offered at auction without a published result. Recorded sale prices range from $94Sign up free to see to $6kSign up free to see. The highest price recorded is $6kSign up free to see for Untitled at DuMouchelles in October 2025. The most common medium is oil paintings (14 lots). Most results come from Wright (8), DuMouchelles (7) and Rago Auctions (3).

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39 results

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  1. Lester Johnson, Self-Portrait in Umber, 1959, oil and watercolor on paper
    Self-Portrait in Umber, 1959
    Oil · Paper
    40 x 26 in (101.6 x 66.1 cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 125
    $3,072≈ £2,284≈ €2,614Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–1,500View at Bonhams ↗
  2. Lester Johnson, Untitled, 1970-1975, Oil on Canvas
    Untitled, 1970-1975
    Oil · Canvas
    H 40" W 30"
    DuMouchelles · · Lot 1131
    $6,000≈ £4,466≈ €5,137HammerSign up free to seeEst. $4,000–6,000View at DuMouchelles ↗
  3. Lester Johnson, Crowd, 1972, Watercolor And Pastel on Paper
    Crowd, 1972
    Watercolor · Paper
    H 30" W 22"
    DuMouchelles · · Lot 1132
    $3,500≈ £2,605≈ €2,996HammerSign up free to seeEst. $800–1,200View at DuMouchelles ↗
  4. Lester Johnson, Head Facing West, 1962, oil on board
    Head Facing West, 1962
    Oil · Board
    16 h x 20 w in (41 x 51 cm)
    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · · Lot 148
    $2,112≈ £1,570≈ €1,815Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $2,000–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
  5. Lester Johnson, Untitled, Serigraph on Pink Paper, Ca. 1985, "Three Girls"
    Untitled
    Screenprint · Paper
    H 30" W 42"
    DuMouchelles · · Lot 1250
    $125≈ £103≈ €122HammerSign up free to seeEst. $150–300View at DuMouchelles ↗
  6. Lester Johnson, Untitled (Head), 1961, pastel on paper
    Untitled (Head), 1961
    Pastel · Paper
    19⅝ h x 12¾ w in (50 x 32 cm)
    Wright · · Lot 174
    $1,965≈ £1,526≈ €1,810Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–View at Wright ↗
  7. Lester Johnson, Landscape, Watercolor Painting
    Landscape
    Watercolor
    Palm Beach Modern Auctions · · Lot 336
    $1,024≈ £814≈ €951Price realizedSign up free to seeView at Palm Beach Modern Auctions ↗
  8. Beethoven Study No. II, 1964
    Mixed media · Paper
    24 x 36 in.
    Cottone Auctions · · Lot 19
    $480≈ £377≈ €440Price realizedSign up free to seeView at Cottone Auctions ↗
  9. Beethoven Study No. I, 1964
    Mixed media · Paper
    24 x 36 in.
    Cottone Auctions · · Lot 20
    $360≈ £282≈ €330Price realizedSign up free to seeView at Cottone Auctions ↗
  10. Watercolor
    Drawing
    27 x 41 in.
    Cottone Auctions · · Lot 21
    $1,440≈ £1,130≈ €1,320Price realizedSign up free to seeView at Cottone Auctions ↗
Also offered, result not published (6)

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

Lester Johnson paintings (14)Lester Johnson oil paintings (14)Lester Johnson works on paper (11)Lester Johnson watercolors (3)Lester Johnson prints (10)Lester Johnson lithographs (8)

Lester Johnson: quick facts

What is the highest price paid for a work by Lester Johnson at auction?

$6,000Sign up free to see, for Untitled at DuMouchelles (October 2025) — the highest price in ArtSell’s records.

What is a typical auction price for Lester Johnson?

The median sale price is $1.5kSign up free to see across 36 priced sales. Prices vary by medium, size and date — see the price chart & statistics.

How many works by Lester Johnson have sold at auction?

36 of 39 recorded lots sold between 2003 and 2026. 6 further lots were offered with no published result and are not counted.

Which auction houses sell Lester Johnson?

Wright, DuMouchelles and Rago Auctions account for the most recorded results. Wright · DuMouchelles · Rago Auctions

About Lester Johnson

Lester Johnson was an American artist and educator. Johnson was a member of the Second Generation of the New York School during the late 1950s. The subject of much of his work is the human figure. His style is considered by critics and art historians to be in the figurative expressionist mode.

From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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