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Lorna Simpson

American · b. 1960

Lorna Simpson is an American photographer and multimedia artist whose works have been exhibited both nationally and internationally. In 1990, she became one of the first… (Wikipedia)

Own a work by Lorna Simpson? Get a free auction estimate →

50lots offered2011–2026years recorded84%sold (41)$4.5kSign up free to seemedian price

Record prices

  1. Lorna Simpson, Constellation, 2020, ink and screenprint on gessoed fibreglassConstellationPhillips · £101,600≈ $132,761≈ €121,376Sign up to see
  2. Lorna Simpson, Twosomes, 2013, 24 bronze plaques and 19 photographs in bronze frames, in 43 partsTwosomesPhillips · £50,000≈ $63,465≈ €55,769Sign up to see
  3. Lorna Simpson, Portrait, 1988, silver gelatin print, in artist's frame with engraved plastic plaquePortraitPhillips · £44,100≈ $57,590≈ €48,591Sign up to see

Lorna Simpson’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 49 auction results for Lorna Simpson between 2011 and 2026, of which 41 sold (84%). A further 1 lot was offered at auction without a published result. Recorded sale prices range from $381Sign up free to see to $133kSign up free to see. The highest price recorded is $133kSign up free to see for Constellation at Phillips in October 2024. The most common medium is photographs (18 lots). Most results come from Phillips (33), Wright (6) and Rago Auctions (5).

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  1. Lorna Simpson, Summer '57/Summer '09, 2009, Twelve gelatin silver prints
    Summer '57/Summer '09, 2009
    Photograph · ed. 2/2
    5 x 5 in. (12.7 x 12.7 cm) Each 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. (19.1 x 19.1 cm) framed Overall installation dimensions variable
    Phillips · · Lot 87
    $24,510≈ £18,230≈ €20,929Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $15,000–25,000View at Phillips ↗
  2. Lorna Simpson, Untitled, 1995, electrostatic heat transfer on felt
    Untitled, 1995
    electrostatic heat transfer on felt
    8⅜ h x 12⅜ w in (21 x 31 cm)
    Rago Auctions · · Lot 290
    $826≈ £616≈ €705Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $700–View at Rago Auctions ↗
  3. Lorna Simpson, Counting, 1991, Monumental photogravure and screenprint, on wove paper, with full margins
    Counting, 1991
    Etching · Paper · ed. 32/60
    I. 68 x 35 1/2 in. (172.7 x 90.2 cm) S. 73 1/2 x 38 in. (186.7 x 96.5 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 349
    $4,515≈ £3,376≈ €3,890Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $5,000–7,000View at Phillips ↗
  4. Lorna Simpson, Two Pairs, 1997, photogravure on handmade Richard de Bas
    Two Pairs, 1997
    Photograph
    12¼ h x 18⅞ w in (31 x 48 cm)
    Rago Auctions · · Lot 228
    $2,032≈ £1,512≈ €1,731Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–View at Rago Auctions ↗
  5. Lorna Simpson, III, 1994, ceramic, patinated bronze, rubber, cedar, felt
    III, 1994
    Lithograph
    13⅝ h x 5⅜ w x 2 d in (35 x 14 x 5 cm)
    Wright · · Lot 296
    $693≈ £545≈ €660Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $500–View at Wright ↗
  6. Lorna Simpson, Constellation, 2020, ink and screenprint on gessoed fibreglass
    Constellation, 2020
    Screenprint
    170.2 x 127 cm (67 x 50 in.)
    Phillips · · Lot 108
    £101,600≈ $132,761≈ €121,376Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £200,000–300,000View at Phillips ↗
  7. Lorna Simpson, 2 Tracks, 1990, Gelatin silver print triptych, flush-mounted in artist's frames, with two engraved text plaques
    2 Tracks, 1990
    Photograph · ed. 2/4
    Overall 48 3/4 x 62 1/2 in. (123.8 x 158.8 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 359
    $38,100≈ £29,117≈ €34,772Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $40,000–60,000View at Phillips ↗
  8. Lorna Simpson, Van Der Zee Prop Vase, from 1993 Whitney Biennial in Seoul, 1994, Photolithograph, on Rives BFK paper, with full margins
    Van Der Zee Prop Vase, from 1993 Whitney Biennial in Seoul, 1994
    Lithograph · Paper · ed. 2/95
    I. 9 1/4 x 5 1/8 in. (23.5 x 13 cm) S. 25 x 19 1/2 in. (63.5 x 49.5 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 90
    $381≈ £290≈ €345Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $800–1,200View at Phillips ↗
  9. Lorna Simpson, III, 1994, cedar, waterless lithography on felt, ceramic, bronze, rubber
    III, 1994
    Lithograph
    2¼ h x 5⅜ w x 13⅝ d in (6 x 14 x 35 cm)
    Wright · · Lot 206
    $630≈ £489≈ €580Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $500–View at Wright ↗
  10. Lorna Simpson, Backdrops Circa 1940s, 1998, Screenprint diptych in colors, on two felt panels, the full sheets
    Backdrops Circa 1940s, 1998
    Screenprint · Panel · ed. 28/35
    both S. 26 x 16 7/8 in. (66 x 42.9 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 108
    $4,445≈ £3,515≈ €4,156Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $4,000–6,000View at Phillips ↗
Also offered, result not published (1)

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

Lorna Simpson works on paper (5)Lorna Simpson prints (19)Lorna Simpson lithographs (6)Lorna Simpson screenprints (9)Lorna Simpson photographs (18)

Lorna Simpson: quick facts

What is the highest price paid for a work by Lorna Simpson at auction?

$132,761Sign up free to see, for Constellation at Phillips (October 2024) — the highest price in ArtSell’s records.

What is a typical auction price for Lorna Simpson?

The median sale price is $4.5kSign up free to see across 41 priced sales. Prices vary by medium, size and date — see the price chart & statistics.

How many works by Lorna Simpson have sold at auction?

41 of 49 recorded lots sold between 2011 and 2026. 1 further lot was offered with no published result and is not counted.

Which auction houses sell Lorna Simpson?

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

Lorna Simpson signature

28 catalogued lots by Lorna Simpson record a signature line. The most common placement is on the reverse (64% of lots that state a placement). Most often: signed.

Placement

  • on the reverse9
  • lower right3
  • lower left1
  • upper left1

Form

  • signed15
  • signed and dated9
  • initialled3
  • signed in pencil1
  • Signed with the artist's initials, titled and dated 'Constellation, 2020 LS' on the reverse — Constellation, Phillips, Oct 11, 2024
  • (i, ii) titled "3 PART SOUL" on the reverse (iii) signed, titled and dated "3 PART SOUL Lorna Simpson 2016" on the reverse — Three Part Soul, Phillips, Mar 9, 2022
  • (i, ii) titled "3 PART SOUL" on the reverse (iii) signed, titled and dated "3 PART SOUL Lorna Simpson 2016" on the reverse — Three Part Soul, Phillips, Nov 18, 2021

Lorna Simpson signature: all forms and examples →

About Lorna Simpson

Lorna Simpson is an American photographer and multimedia artist whose works have been exhibited both nationally and internationally. In 1990, she became one of the first African-American women to exhibit at the Venice Biennale. She came to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s with photo-text installations such as Guarded Conditions and Square Deal that questioned the nature of identity, gender, race, history and representation. Simpson continues to explore these themes in relation to memory and history using photography, film, video, painting, drawing, audio, and sculpture.

From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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