William Klein

American · 1926–2022 · Painter, Printmaker

William Klein was an American-French photographer and filmmaker noted for his ironic approach to both media and his extensive use of unusual photographic techniques in the… (Wikipedia)

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140lots offered2009–2026years recorded87%sold (121)$5.4kSign up free to seemedian price

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Record prices

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Black traces + 4 yellow pastillesPhillips · Nov 2018£30,000≈ $38,763≈ €34,024Sign up to see
Hat + 5 Roses, Paris (Vogue)Phillips · Apr 2024$33,020≈ £26,125≈ €30,458Sign up to see
Smoke + Veil, Paris (Vogue)Phillips · Nov 2017£22,500≈ $29,543≈ €25,369Sign up to see

William Klein’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).

Coming up at auction

5 in forthcoming sales · bid with the house

Listed from the auction houses’ own websites; estimates are the houses’ own, not results.

ArtSell has recorded 139 auction results for William Klein between 2009 and 2026, of which 121 sold (87%). A further 1 lot was offered at auction without a published result. Recorded sale prices range from $192Sign up free to see to $38.8kSign up free to see. The highest price recorded is $38.8kSign up free to see for Black traces + 4 yellow pastilles at Phillips in November 2018. The most common medium is photographs (129 lots). Most results come from Phillips (85), Lempertz (16) and Grisebach (13).

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Longest side– Editioned With imagesReset

139 results · page 1 of 4

Snowman, New York
Photograph
11 h x 14½ w in (28 x 37 cm)
Rago Auctions · May 5, 2026 · Lot 202
$1,280≈ £946≈ €1,095Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–View at Rago Auctions ↗
Smoke + Veil, Paris
Photograph
17⅞ h x 12⅞ w in (45 x 33 cm)
Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · Mar 10, 2026 · Lot 126
$4,064≈ £3,021≈ €3,491Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $4,000–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
'Gun 1, 103rd & Broadway, New York', 1955
Photograph
15 5/8 x 11 3/4 in. (39.7 x 29.8 cm.)
Bonhams · Feb 27, 2026 · Lot 123
$4,864≈ £3,611≈ €4,120Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–1,500View at Bonhams ↗
First Avenue (from the portfolio 'New York 54/55'), 1955
Photograph
7 7/8 x 11 7/8 in. (20 x 30.2 cm.)
Bonhams · Jan 22, 2026 · Lot 300
$1,024≈ £763≈ €875Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–1,500View at Bonhams ↗
Cine Poster', Tokyo 1961, 1961
Photograph · Paper
OstLicht Photo Auction · Nov 21, 2025 · Lot 144
€2,400≈ $2,765≈ £2,113HammerSign up free to seeEst. €4,000–5,000View at OstLicht Photo Auction ↗
'Elsa Maxwell's Toy Ball, Waldorf, New York', 1955
Photograph
11 3/4 x 16 in. (29.8 x 40.6 cm.)
Bonhams · Oct 10, 2025 · Lot 179
$1,408≈ £1,060≈ €1,217Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,500–2,000View at Bonhams ↗
Club Allegro Fortissimo, Paris, 1990
Photograph
19 5/8 x 23 5/8 in. (49.8 x 60 cm)
Phillips · Oct 9, 2025 · Lot 120
$19,350≈ £14,471≈ €16,665Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $12,000–18,000View at Phillips ↗
Atom Bomb Sky, New York, 1955
Photograph
14 7/8 x 22 1/8 in. (37.8 x 56.2 cm)
Phillips · Oct 9, 2025 · Lot 307
$5,805≈ £4,341≈ €5,000Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $4,000–6,000View at Phillips ↗
Smoke + Veil, Paris (Vogue), 1958
Photograph
17 3/4 x 12 5/8 in. (45.1 x 32.1 cm)
Phillips · Apr 2, 2025 · Lot 52
$5,715≈ £4,415≈ €5,290Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $4,000–6,000View at Phillips ↗
Hat + 5 Roses, Paris (Vogue), 1956
Photograph
17 7/8 x 13 1/2 in. (45.4 x 34.3 cm)
Phillips · Apr 2, 2025 · Lot 53
$6,096≈ £4,709≈ €5,643Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $4,000–6,000View at Phillips ↗

Also offered, result not published (1)

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

William Klein photographs (129)

William Klein: quick facts

What is the highest price paid for a work by William Klein at auction?

$38,763Sign up free to see, for Black traces + 4 yellow pastilles at Phillips (November 2018) — the highest price in ArtSell’s records.

What is a typical auction price for William Klein?

The median sale price is $5.4kSign up free to see across 121 priced sales. Prices vary by medium, size and date — see the price chart & statistics.

How many works by William Klein have sold at auction?

121 of 139 recorded lots sold between 2009 and 2026. 1 further lot was offered with no published result and is not counted.

Which auction houses sell William Klein?

Phillips, Lempertz and Grisebach account for the most recorded results. Phillips · Lempertz · Grisebach

About William Klein

William Klein was an American-French photographer and filmmaker noted for his ironic approach to both media and his extensive use of unusual photographic techniques in the context of photojournalism and fashion photography. He was ranked 25th on Professional Photographer's list of 100 most influential photographers.

From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.