Budd Hopkins Auction Prices and Value Guide

Budd Hopkins auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 232 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Budd Hopkins auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
Budd Hopkins
Source records
232
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Budd Hopkins

Elliot Budd Hopkins (1931–2011) was an American painter and sculptor based in New York. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, he established himself within the post-war Abstract Expressionist circle and produced paintings and sculptural works throughout a career spanning several decades. Hopkins exhibited his abstract compositions in galleries and received recognition in standard contemporary artist references, including the Cummings dictionary of contemporary artists and the Witt Checklist of painters. In addition to his visual art practice, Hopkins became a widely known author and researcher on UFO and alien abduction phenomena, publishing several influential books on the subject. He died in Manhattan on August 21, 2011, at the age of 80. His dual identity as a serious abstract artist and a prominent UFO researcher makes him a distinctive figure in twentieth-century American cultural history.

Abstract ExpressionismPaintingSculptureAbstract compositions

Common works and media

Collectors most frequently encounter Hopkins's abstract paintings in oil and acrylic on canvas, as well as smaller works on paper including drawings and prints. He also produced sculptural works. His paintings are typically non-representational, reflecting the Abstract Expressionist idiom. Works range from small-scale studies to larger gallery-sized canvases. Outside the fine-art market, Hopkins authored several books on UFO phenomena — these are collectible as publications but are a distinct category from his visual art.

Market and appraisal context

Budd Hopkins's original paintings and sculptures appear at auction under Post-War and Contemporary Art and American Art categories. His abstract canvases and sculptural works are the primary fine-art objects of interest to collectors and appraisers. Key factors affecting appraisal include the medium (oil on canvas, works on paper, or sculpture), scale, date of execution, exhibition history, and documented provenance. Hopkins is listed in the Getty Union List of Artist Names, the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History, and the Library of Congress authority files, which supports identity verification for appraisal purposes. Collectors should distinguish between his fine-art output and his separately published UFO-research books, which represent a different collectible market.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Appraisal caveats

  • Budd Hopkins is also widely known for his UFO research publications, which is a separate body of work from his visual art practice. Collectors should confirm that a work being appraised is an original fine-art piece and not a book, manuscript, or UFO-related publication.
  • The source pack does not include specific auction-house realized-price records. Appraisals should be cross-referenced with current comparable sale data from major auction databases.

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 Budd Hopkins

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Budd Hopkins 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 Budd Hopkins artwork?

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