Thornton Dial, Sr.

American · 1928–2016 · Painter, Sculptor

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21lots offered2017–2026years recorded95%sold (19)$5.6kSign up free to seemedian price

Record prices

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The Clouds at Ground LevelRago Auctions · Nov 2025$50,800≈ £38,720≈ €43,884Sign up to see
Back HomeRago Auctions · Nov 2025$48,260≈ £36,784≈ €41,690Sign up to see
Fishing for LoveRago Auctions · Mar 2021$10,000≈ £7,254≈ €8,415Sign up to see

Thornton Dial, Sr.’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 20 auction results for Thornton Dial, Sr. between 2017 and 2026, of which 19 sold (95%). A further 1 lot was offered at auction without a published result. Recorded sale prices range from $1.4kSign up free to see to $50.8kSign up free to see. The highest price recorded is $50.8kSign up free to see for The Clouds at Ground Level at Rago Auctions in November 2025. The most common medium is watercolors (11 lots). Most results come from Rago Auctions (11), Palm Beach Modern Auctions (3) and Clarke Auction Gallery (3).

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20 results

Birds Created by Trees and People (Life Go On)
Watercolor · Paper
30 x 22 in. (76.2 x 55.9 cm)
Phillips · Sep 21, 2026 · Lot 114
$7,095≈ £5,297≈ €6,175Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–2,000View at Phillips ↗
Untitled, c. 1990
Watercolor · Paper
22 h x 30 w in (56 x 76 cm)
Rago Auctions · Mar 25, 2026 · Lot 225
$2,261≈ £1,688≈ €1,950Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,500–View at Rago Auctions ↗
Women in Bushes, 1997
Acrylic · Paper
30 x 22 in.
Brunk Auctions · Nov 14, 2025 · Lot 2236
$1,400≈ £1,063≈ €1,202HammerSign up free to seeEst. $1,500–2,500View at Brunk Auctions ↗
Back Home, 2012
used clothing, wood, metal, stuffed animal, and enamel on canvas on wood · Canvas
54 h x 48 w x 9 d in (137 x 122 x 23 cm)
Rago Auctions · Nov 12, 2025 · Lot 193
$48,260≈ £36,784≈ €41,690Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $30,000–View at Rago Auctions ↗
The Clouds at Ground Level, 2003
plastic bottles, machine parts, roots, found metal, clothing, plastic twine, wire, enamel, spray paint, and Splash Zone compound on canvas on wood · Canvas
64¼ h x 84 w x 11 d in (163 x 213 x 28 cm)
Rago Auctions · Nov 12, 2025 · Lot 195
$50,800≈ £38,720≈ €43,884Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $60,000–View at Rago Auctions ↗
Blue Fox and Lady
Watercolor · Paper
30 h x 22⅛ w in (76 x 56 cm)
Toomey & Co. · Jun 26, 2025 · Lot 313
$2,540≈ £1,854≈ €2,172Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $4,000–View at Toomey & Co. ↗
Fishing for the Sun Bass, 2000
Drawing · Paper
30 h x 22¼ w in (76 x 57 cm)
Rago Auctions · Jun 15, 2022 · Lot 278
$8,125≈ £6,724≈ €7,789Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $3,000–View at Rago Auctions ↗
Paying Attention to the People (Gore and the American Tiger), 2000
Drawing · Paper
30 h x 44¼ w in (76 x 112 cm)
Rago Auctions · Jun 15, 2022 · Lot 279
$8,320≈ £6,886≈ €7,976Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $3,000–View at Rago Auctions ↗
Untitled
Painting
Palm Beach Modern Auctions · Jan 29, 2022 · Lot 452
$5,312≈ £3,967≈ €4,769Price realizedSign up free to seeView at Palm Beach Modern Auctions ↗
Untitled
Painting
Palm Beach Modern Auctions · Jan 29, 2022 · Lot 453
$5,625≈ £4,201≈ €5,050Price realizedSign up free to seeView at Palm Beach Modern Auctions ↗

Also offered, result not published (1)

Lots by Thornton Dial, Sr. that were offered at auction where the house did not publish whether they sold. Not counted in any statistics.

Thornton Dial, Sr. works on paper (16)Thornton Dial, Sr. watercolors (11)

Thornton Dial, Sr.: quick facts

What is the highest price paid for a work by Thornton Dial, Sr. at auction?

$50,800Sign up free to see, for The Clouds at Ground Level at Rago Auctions (November 2025) — the highest price in ArtSell’s records.

What is a typical auction price for Thornton Dial, Sr.?

The median sale price is $5.6kSign up free to see across 19 priced sales. Prices vary by medium, size and date — see the price chart & statistics.

How many works by Thornton Dial, Sr. have sold at auction?

19 of 20 recorded lots sold between 2017 and 2026. 1 further lot was offered with no published result and is not counted.

Which auction houses sell Thornton Dial, Sr.?

Rago Auctions, Palm Beach Modern Auctions and Clarke Auction Gallery account for the most recorded results. Rago Auctions · Palm Beach Modern Auctions · Clarke Auction Gallery