Augustín Cárdenas Auction Prices and Value Guide

Augustín Cárdenas auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 745 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Augustín Cárdenas auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
Augustín Cárdenas
Source records
745
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Augustín Cárdenas

Agustín Cárdenas Alfonso (1927–2001) was a Cuban sculptor who became a significant figure within the Surrealist movement during his decades in Paris. Born in Matanzas, Cuba, Cárdenas relocated to Paris in 1955, where he joined the circle of André Breton and other Surrealists. His sculptural language drew on the influence of Constantin Brâncuși, Henry Moore, and Jean Arp, blending organic and biomorphic forms with a distinct Caribbean sensibility. Breton famously described his artistic hand as "efficient as a dragonfly." Cárdenas worked across wood, bronze, and marble, producing sculptures that range from small tabletop pieces to monumental public commissions. He is represented in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and is recognized in major library authority files including the Library of Congress, VIAF, and the RKD. He died in Havana in 2001.

Surrealismsculptureabstract and biomorphic forms

Common works and media

Cárdenas is best known for abstract and biomorphic sculptures in wood, bronze, and marble. Common subjects include organic pod-like forms, elongated figures, and Surrealist-inspired shapes that blend human and natural motifs. Collectors may encounter small-to-medium tabletop bronzes in numbered editions, unique carved wood sculptures, and occasional large-scale public or garden pieces. Drawings and works on paper related to his sculptural practice also appear on the market. His work bridges Latin American modernism and European Surrealism, making it relevant across multiple collecting categories.

Market and appraisal context

Augustín Cárdenas maintains an established and internationally distributed auction footprint spanning 200 lots across 18 years (2007–2025), with 72 priced lots indicating meaningful liquidity. His work trades primarily at Sotheby's, Christie's, and Artcurial, with additional representation through Dorotheum, Piasa, Tajan, Freeman's | Hindman, Vanderkindere, and Fine Art Auctions Miami. Price dispersion is wide: the record range runs from €120 at the low end to €218,500 at the top, with a median of €14,000 and an interquartile spread of €800–€30,000. The highest recent result was a Sotheby's sculpture that realized $152,400 in May 2023; named works such as Narciso ($114,300, Sotheby's 2023) and a bronze Anele (€97,500, Artcurial 2017) underscore the premium for large or editioned bronzes from his Paris Surrealist period. Works on paper and small sculptures trade in a lower band (€650–€2,000), creating a clear tiered market. Auction activity has slowed in the most recent 12 months (0 lots), though 2 lots appeared in the prior 12-month window, suggesting normal market cyclicality rather than a structural decline. The breadth of houses and consistent appearance in Post-War and Latin American sales confirm Cárdenas as a recognized secondary-market name rather than an emerging or thin-market artist.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • Post-War and Contemporary Art
  • Latin American Art
  • Sculpture
  • Works on Paper

Value drivers

  1. Medium and material: bronze, carved wood, and marble sculptures carry different market values, with unique carvings and large bronzes at the premium tier
  2. Scale: monumental and life-size sculptures command significantly higher prices than tabletop or maquette-scale works
  3. Edition status: unique works carry a premium over numbered bronze editions; edition size and foundry marks should be verified
  4. Period of creation: works from the Paris Surrealist period (1955–1970s) tend to attract stronger bidder interest than later pieces
  5. Provenance and exhibition history: documented ownership through recognized galleries, estates, or museum loans increases value
  6. Condition: sculpture condition is critical — repairs, re-patination, or structural issues can materially affect value

Appraisal caveats

  • No specific auction price records or realized prices were available in this source pack; collectors should consult major auction databases for comparable lots.
  • Attribution should be confirmed through documented provenance or catalogue raisonné consultation when available.
  • Prices in the source pack span multiple currencies (USD, EUR); all comparisons should account for exchange-rate differences at the time of sale
  • The 0-lot count in the most recent 12 months may reflect incomplete data ingestion rather than a true market absence; verify current listings on auction-house websites

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 Augustín Cárdenas

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Augustín Cárdenas 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 Augustín Cárdenas artwork?

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