Franciszek Starowieyski Auction Prices and Value Guide
Franciszek Starowieyski auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 282 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Franciszek Starowieyski auction prices: quick answer
Franciszek Starowieyski auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Franciszek Starowieyski
- Source records
- 282
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About Franciszek Starowieyski
Franciszek Starowieyski (1930–2009) was a Polish painter, poster designer, illustrator, and stage designer whose career spanned more than five decades. Born in Kraków and trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków and Warsaw under Wojciech Weiss, Starowieyski became one of the most distinctive figures of the Polish Poster School, a movement that elevated graphic poster design into a recognized art form. His visual language departed from both the socialist realism mandated in postwar Poland and the bright decorative style of popular Cyrk posters, favoring instead surreal, heavily drawn compositions with theatrical and allegorical imagery. A member of the Alliance Graphique International, he produced celebrated posters for theater, film, and cultural events, alongside book illustrations, stage designs, and drawings that circulated widely in Poland and France. Collectors encounter Starowieyski's work across posters, original works on paper, paintings, and stage-related art.
Polish Poster Schoolposterdrawingpaintingstage designfigure
Common works and media
Collectors most commonly encounter Starowieyski's printed posters for theater, film, and cultural events, often produced through Polish state printing workshops. Original drawings in ink, charcoal, or mixed media, easel paintings, stage and set designs, and book illustrations also appear on the market. Works range from large-format exhibition and cinema posters to smaller-scale illustrations and works on paper.
Market and appraisal context
Starowieyski's works appear at auction primarily as posters, drawings, and prints. Original paintings and drawings generally carry more value than printed poster editions, though significant theater and film posters can achieve strong results due to the artist's international reputation within the Polish Poster School tradition. Provenance, condition, whether a work is an original or print, and the specific commission context all influence appraisal. Auction records for Polish poster artists are less extensive than for Western contemporaries, so comparable lots and specialist review are important for accurate valuation.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- Poster prints may exist in multiple copies; original paintings and drawings typically command higher values.
- Market records for Polish poster artists can be thinner than for Western European or American contemporaries; comparable auction results should be reviewed carefully.
- Works produced under state commission during the Polish People's Republic era may have complex provenance considerations.
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
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
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 Franciszek Starowieyski 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 Franciszek Starowieyski artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.