Robert Motherwell Oil Paintings: Auction Prices

1915–1991

Robert Motherwell oil paintings have appeared at auction 7 times in ArtSell’s records between 2017 and 2025; 6 sold, a sell-through rate of 86%. The median price realised is $197kSign up free to see across 6 priced sales; the middle half sold for $64.3kSign up free to see–$1MSign up free to see. The highest recorded price is $2.2MSign up free to see for A Sculptor's Picture, with Blue at Phillips in November 2017. Most results come from Phillips (6) and Bonhams (1).

Price chart & statistics for Robert Motherwell →

All oil paintings results

1. 
   A Sculptor's Picture, with Blue, 1958

   Oil · Canvas

   70 1/8 x 76 1/4 in. (178.1 x 193.7 cm)

   Phillips · Nov 19, 2025 · Lot 22
   $1,225,500≈ £933,928≈ €1,058,016Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $750,000–1,000,000View at Phillips ↗
2. 
   Mexican Prison, 1979/1990

   Oil · Paper

   35 x 18 in.

   Bonhams · Jul 30, 2025 · Lot 31
   $46,080≈ £34,468≈ €39,976Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $50,000–70,000View at Bonhams ↗
3. 
   Beside the Sea No. 36, 1962

   Oil · Paper

   29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4 cm)

   Phillips · Nov 20, 2024 · Lot 186
   $69,850≈ £55,143≈ €66,133Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $60,000–80,000View at Phillips ↗
4. 
   Souvenir de Californie, 1953-1955

   Oil · Board

   16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

   Phillips · Nov 15, 2023 · Lot 172
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. $50,000–70,000View at Phillips ↗
5. 
   Drunk With Turpentine, 1983

   Oil · Paper

   29 x 23 1/8 in. (73.8 x 58.7 cm.)

   Phillips · Nov 13, 2019 · Lot 203
   $62,500≈ £48,703≈ €56,787Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $40,000–60,000View at Phillips ↗
6. 
   A Sculptor's Picture, with Blue, 1958

   Oil · Canvas

   70 1/4 x 76 1/4 in. (178.4 x 193.7 cm.)

   Phillips · Nov 16, 2017 · Lot 4
   $2,249,000≈ £1,703,917≈ €1,910,628Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $2,000,000–3,000,000View at Phillips ↗
7. 
   Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 50, 1958

   Oil · Board

   8 5/8 x 10 5/8 in. (21.9 x 27 cm.)

   Phillips · Nov 15, 2017 · Lot 186
   $325,000≈ £246,792≈ €274,493Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300,000–500,000View at Phillips ↗
8. 
   AbstractAttributed to the artist

   Oil · Canvas

   54" x 40”

   James D. Julia · Aug 21, 2012 · Lot 1628
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. $6,000–8,000View at James D. Julia ↗

Other media by Robert Motherwell

PaintingsWorks on PaperPrintsAcrylic PaintingsDrawingsEtchingsAquatintsLithographsScreenprints

All Robert Motherwell auction results →