Adolph Gottlieb Auction Prices and Value Guide

Adolph Gottlieb auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 1,217 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Adolph Gottlieb auction prices: quick answer

Adolph Gottlieb auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Adolph Gottlieb
Source records
1,217
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Adolph Gottlieb

Adolph Gottlieb (1903–1974) was an American abstract expressionist painter, sculptor, and printmaker born in New York City. A founding figure of the Abstract Expressionist movement, he studied with Robert Henri and John Sloan before attending the Educational Alliance Art School. Gottlieb is recognized for his Pictograph paintings of the 1940s, which incorporated archetypal symbols drawn from mythology and primitive art, and his later Burst series, featuring luminous orb forms suspended above bold gestural strokes. He was among the artists known as the Irascibles who championed avant-garde art in postwar America. His work is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Tate, and other major institutions worldwide.

Abstract ExpressionismOil paintingSculpturePrintmakingGraphic artPictographsBurstsLandscapes

Common works and media

Gottlieb's most commonly encountered works include oil on canvas paintings from the Pictograph and Burst series, screen prints and lithographs, works on paper, and occasional sculptures. His prints—often produced in editions—are widely represented in auction records. Collectors may also find later landscapes and mixed-media works. The 1,200-plus lots documented across auction databases reflect sustained institutional and collector interest.

Market and appraisal context

Adolph Gottlieb's auction market is deep and liquid, with 630 documented lots and 491 priced results spanning from 1998 to April 2026. The price distribution is exceptionally wide—ranging from $10 at the low end to $10.53 million at the high—reflecting the vast difference between editioned prints and major canvas paintings. The median price of $2,750 and 25th percentile of $1,700 indicate that prints and works on paper dominate volume, while the 75th percentile at $85,000 marks the threshold where significant paintings and unique works begin. Thirty-five lots appeared in the most recent 12 months versus 33 in the prior period, showing stable, consistent turnover. Top-tier houses including Christie's, Sotheby's, Phillips, and Bonhams handle premium material, while mid-tier and regional houses such as Swann Auction Galleries, Rago Arts and Auction Center, Wright, and RoGallery regularly offer prints and smaller works. A March 2026 Christie's sale of the oil painting 'Sand' realized £203,200, confirming continued demand for important canvases at the upper market.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • Post-War and Contemporary Art
  • American Art
  • Prints and Multiples
  • Works on Paper

Value drivers

  1. [object Object]

Appraisal caveats

  • Market values vary widely based on medium, size, period, and condition; prints and works on paper are considerably more accessible than major canvases.
  • Attribution should be verified against the catalogue raisonné and expert opinion.
  • The $10.53 million maximum price represents an outlier tied to a major museum-quality canvas; it should not be used as a benchmark for typical works.
  • The $50 'Oil/Canvas board Abstract Signed Adolph Gottlieb' lot at Orion Antiques has no image and may involve attribution questions—low-price results at regional houses require careful verification.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Adolph Gottlieb

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Adolph Gottlieb worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Adolph Gottlieb artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.