Cleve Gray Auction Prices and Value Guide
Cleve Gray auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 226 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Cleve Gray auction prices: quick answer
Cleve Gray auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Cleve Gray
- Source records
- 226
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Cleve Gray
Cleve Gray (1918–2004) was an American painter and writer associated with Abstract Expressionism, Color Field painting, and Lyrical Abstraction. Born in New York City, Gray developed a distinctive approach to post-war abstraction characterized by luminous color and gestural brushwork that bridged the energy of Abstract Expressionism with the chromatic focus of Color Field painting. His work is represented in major institutional collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Gray was also active as a writer on art, contributing to the critical discourse around twentieth-century American painting. He died in Hartford, Connecticut, in 2004. Collectors encounter Gray's work at auction and through gallery estates, where his paintings are valued within the broader post-war American art market.
Abstract ExpressionismColor Field paintingLyrical Abstractionpaintingabstract composition
Common works and media
Gray is best known for abstract paintings in oil and acrylic on canvas and paper. His output includes large-scale Color Field compositions, gestural abstract works, and works on paper including drawings and prints. Collectors may also encounter mixed-media pieces and smaller studies. Subject matter is typically non-representational, emphasizing color relationships, spatial depth, and painterly gesture.
Market and appraisal context
Cleve Gray's work appears in the post-war and contemporary American art market, with over 200 documented auction appearances. Key valuation factors include medium, canvas size, date of execution, condition, and provenance. Works linked to his Abstract Expressionist and Color Field periods tend to attract the strongest market interest. Institutional holdings, including MoMA's collection, support his market standing. Collectors and appraisers should verify authenticity, review exhibition history, and compare against recent public auction results for similar works when assessing value.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Post-War and Contemporary Art
- American Art
Value drivers
- Provenance and exhibition history can significantly affect value, as Gray's work is held by major institutions including the Museum of Modern Art
- Medium, dimensions, date of execution, and condition are primary valuation factors for Abstract Expressionist and Color Field works
- Association with multiple post-war movements (Abstract Expressionism, Color Field, Lyrical Abstraction) places Gray's work in several active collecting categories
Appraisal caveats
- No specific auction records or price ranges are available in the collected source pack; appraisal should reference comparable public auction results
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- RKD — Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- VIAF (OCLC) library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
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.
Artist value FAQ
How much is Cleve Gray 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 Cleve Gray artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.