George Dureau Auction Prices and Value Guide

George Dureau auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 807 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

George Dureau auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
George Dureau
Source records
807
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About George Dureau

George Valentine Dureau (1930–2014) was an American painter, photographer, and sculptor who lived and worked in New Orleans for his entire career. He is best known for charcoal drawings and black-and-white photographs that depict male figures—athletes, dwarfs, and amputees—with an unsentimental directness that treats marginalized subjects as complex, fully realized individuals. Dureau's figurative approach and his focus on the human body in its varied forms positioned him as a distinctive voice in late-twentieth-century Southern art. His photographs of amputees and dwarfs are widely cited as an influence on Robert Mapplethorpe, and his work has been recognized by major library and institutional authorities including the Library of Congress, VIAF, and the Getty Union List of Artist Names.

Figurative artSouthern American artCharcoal drawingBlack-and-white photographyPaintingSculptureMale figures and athletesDwarfs and amputeesWorking-class and marginalized subjects

Common works and media

Dureau's most commonly encountered works include charcoal figure drawings and gelatin silver prints depicting male subjects, athletes, dwarfs, and amputees. He also produced oil and acrylic paintings, often figurative, and sculpture in various materials. Photographs and works on paper appear frequently in auction contexts. Collectors should note that his output spans several decades and mediums, so condition, edition information for photographs, and provenance documentation are especially important for appraisal.

Market and appraisal context

George Dureau maintains an established and active secondary market anchored in New Orleans auction houses, with 461 documented lots and 352 with recorded prices spanning from 1998 to May 2026. The price distribution is moderately dispersed: the interquartile range runs from $470 (25th percentile) to $1,750 (75th percentile), with a median of $845 and a ceiling at $22,500. Liquidity is steady but concentrated regionally—New Orleans Auction Galleries, Neal Auction Company, and Crescent City Auction Gallery handle the majority of volume, while Swann Auction Galleries (New York) and Christie's provide occasional national exposure. The trailing twelve months saw 30 priced lots versus 42 in the prior period, indicating a slight cooling in volume but not a collapse. Standout recent results include a $10,000 lot at J. Garrett Auctioneers (Nov 2024), $8,960 at Neal Auction (Jul 2024), and $6,000 at Rago Arts (Nov 2025), suggesting that significant paintings or important works on paper can reach the mid-four-figure to five-figure range, while photographs, posters, and smaller drawings trade in the $500–$2,000 band. Swann Auction Galleries placed two photographs from the late 1970s at $2,286 and $5,280 in February 2026, confirming that vintage photographic prints command premiums among collectors of figurative photography.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • Photographs
  • Works on paper (charcoal drawings)
  • Paintings
  • Sculpture
  • Works on paper (sanguine, watercolor, pastel)

Value drivers

  1. Medium is a key differentiator: photographs, charcoal drawings, paintings, and sculptures each carry distinct market profiles
  2. Provenance and exhibition history in New Orleans and Southern institutions can affect value
  3. Association with Robert Mapplethorpe's circle adds contextual interest for collectors of contemporary figurative photography
  4. With over 800 documented auction appearances, Dureau has an established secondary-market presence
  5. Medium strongly differentiates value: photographs typically $500–$2,500, charcoal drawings $500–$2,000, paintings $1,000–$10,000+, prints and posters $500–$900
  6. Named subjects (e.g., David Kopay, B.J. Roosevelt Singleton, Wendell Platt) may carry a premium over generic or untitled works

Appraisal caveats

  • No specific auction price records or realized prices were available in the source pack; market-range statements should reference public auction databases for current data.
  • Attribution can be complicated by Dureau's work across multiple mediums and subjects; professional appraisal is recommended for unsigned or undocumented works.
  • Auction records reflect only the secondary market and may not represent private-sale or gallery prices, which can differ significantly.
  • The $22,500 maximum price is an outlier; the typical collector will encounter works in the $470–$1,750 interquartile range.

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 George Dureau

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is George Dureau 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 George Dureau artwork?

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