Sell art in Illinois
Selling a painting, print or sculpture in Illinois? Start with a free auction estimate: send a few photos and a specialist replies personally, with no obligation to sell. ArtSell tracks results from 4 auction houses in and around Illinois, the nearest being Wright (Chicago, Illinois).
Auction houses in Illinois and nearby
| Auction house | Location | Distance | Results | Top result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright | Chicago, Illinois | local | 34,467 | $917kSign up free to see |
| Toomey & Co. | Oak Park, Illinois | 8 mi | 21,277 | $965kSign up free to see |
| Leonard Auction | Addison, Illinois | 19 mi | 3,773 | —Sign up free to see |
| DuMouchelles | Detroit | 237 mi | 10,365 | $450kSign up free to see |
Locations are where each house’s sales in our database took place. Listing here is not an endorsement, and ArtSell is not affiliated with these houses.
Recent notable results from Illinois-area houses
- Isamu Noguchi, Enigma (Who Knows) — $495,300Sign up free to see, Wright, Oct 2025
- Tiffany Studios, Scenic Window, Ca. 1923, 'James E. Davidson Window' — $450,000Sign up free to see, DuMouchelles, Feb 2025
- Isamu Noguchi, Rare and Important coffee table — $444,500Sign up free to see, Wright, Apr 2025
- George Nakashima, Exceptional Conoid dining table — $355,600Sign up free to see, Wright, Oct 2025
- Judy Kensley McKie, Monkey settee — $277,200Sign up free to see, Wright, Dec 2024
- Charlotte Perriand, Rare Bahut — $252,000Sign up free to see, Wright, Jun 2024
- Paavo Tynell, Rare chandelier, model 9041 — $241,300Sign up free to see, Wright, Oct 2025
- Gertrude Abercrombie, Owl with Eggs — $228,600Sign up free to see, Wright, Feb 2025
Past auction results, not a valuation of your work. What’s my art worth? Look up similar results →
Free auction estimate
How to consign your art
- Send photos for a free estimate. A photo of the front, plus the signature, the back and any labels if you can. Add the size and anything you know about where the work came from.
- Get an auction estimate. A specialist compares the work with recorded auction results and replies with an estimate range: what the work could reasonably bring at auction, not a guarantee or a formal appraisal.
- Agree terms and a reserve. If you decide to sell, you sign a consignment agreement that sets the commission, any fees and the reserve (the confidential minimum price below which the work will not sell).
- Ship or hand over the work. The work goes to the house for inspection, cataloguing and photography. Condition and authorship are checked before it is offered.
- The sale. The work is offered in a scheduled sale, online or in the room. Buyers pay a buyer’s premium on top of the hammer price; that is the buyer’s cost, not yours.
- Get paid. After the buyer pays, the house settles with you: the hammer price minus the seller’s commission and any agreed fees.
Typical timeline
- Estimate: usually a few days after you send photos.
- Consignment to sale: commonly 6–12 weeks, because houses build sales around themes and seasons and need time to catalogue and market each lot.
- Payment: usually about 30–35 days after the sale, once the buyer has paid.
What selling costs
- Seller’s commission: a percentage of the hammer price. At many houses it falls roughly between 10% and 25%, often lower for higher-value works, and it is frequently negotiable.
- Possible fees: some houses charge for photography, insurance, shipping or an unsold-lot fee. Ask which apply before you sign.
- Buyer’s premium: paid by the buyer on top of the hammer price. Prices in our results include it where the house publishes it.
Selling inherited art and estates in Illinois
Most art that comes to auction comes from estates. If you are clearing a parent’s home or handling a will, a few steps protect what the collection is worth:
- Keep everything together until it has been looked at — including frames, labels, receipts, letters and old appraisals, which can prove who made a work and where it has been.
- Don’t clean or repair paintings yourself; a careless clean can cost far more than it saves.
- Photograph each work front, back, signature and any labels. A phone is fine. How to photograph art →
- Check what the estate needs: executors often need a date-of-death appraisal for tax or division, which is different from an auction estimate. Request an appraisal →
What to have ready
- A straight-on photo of the whole front, in daylight, without glare (frame on is fine)
- A close-up of the signature, monogram or any stamp
- The back: canvas or board, stretcher, labels, gallery or exhibition stickers, inscriptions
- Height and width (and depth for sculpture), without the frame if you can
- Medium if you know it: oil, acrylic, watercolor, print, bronze…
- How you acquired it: purchase receipts, gallery invoices, letters, family history, past appraisals
- Condition notes: tears, flaking, stains, restoration, foxing on paper
- For prints: the edition number (e.g. 23/100) and any blindstamp
Selling art in Illinois: questions
Where can I sell art in Illinois?
4 auction houses with results in the ArtSell database sell art in or near Illinois: Wright, Toomey & Co., Leonard Auction, DuMouchelles. Many houses also accept works from anywhere by photo and ship them in, so you are not limited to local salerooms. A free auction estimate is the easiest place to start.
How do I get my art appraised or estimated in Illinois?
For selling, send photos for a free auction estimate — no visit needed. For insurance, an estate or a donation you need a formal written appraisal, which is a paid service; you can request one through ArtSell’s appraisal page.
How do I sell inherited art or an estate collection in Illinois?
Don’t clean, reframe or split up the collection before it has been seen. Photograph each work (front, signature, back and labels), gather any receipts, letters or old appraisals, and ask for estimates. The executor or administrator usually signs the consignment agreement; for estate tax purposes a qualified appraisal at the date of death may be needed.
How much does it cost to sell at auction?
The seller pays a commission on the hammer price — at many houses roughly 10% to 25%, often negotiable for higher-value works — plus any agreed costs such as photography, insurance or shipping. The estimate is free.
How long until I am paid?
From consignment to sale is commonly 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the next suitable auction. Houses usually pay the seller about 30 to 35 days after the sale, once the buyer has paid.
Sell art in Illinois cities
Seller guides
How to sell art at auctionWhat’s my art worth?Sell a paintingSell a printSell a sculptureSelling inherited art and estatesHow to photograph art for an estimateAppraisal vs. auction estimateWhere to sell artArt appraisal for insurance