John Kacere Auction Prices and Value Guide

John Kacere auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 328 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

John Kacere auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
John Kacere
Source records
328
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About John Kacere

John C. Kacere (1920–1999) was an American painter born in Walker, Iowa, and a graduate of the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History. He began his career in the 1950s working in an Abstract Expressionist vein before shifting in 1963 to the meticulous, photographically grounded style for which he became widely known. Although he rejected the term, Kacere is regarded as one of the original Photorealist painters. His mature work is almost exclusively devoted to large-scale depictions of the midsection of the female body, typically rendered in oil on canvas with exacting detail. This concentrated visual vocabulary gave his output an unmistakable identity and placed him alongside artists such as Richard Estes and Chuck Close in discussions of the 1960s and 1970s Photorealist movement. Kacere died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1999.

Abstract ExpressionismPhotorealismOil on canvasFemale nude (midsection)

Common works and media

Oil on canvas paintings form the bulk of Kacere's known auction market, dominated by large-format photorealist depictions of the female midsection, often showing lingerie or draped fabric. Earlier abstract expressionist canvases from the 1950s and early 1960s are less common but do appear. Prints and works on paper may also surface, though they represent a smaller share of the documented market. Collectors encountering Kacere works should expect predominantly figural subjects with a photographic precision that makes his style immediately identifiable.

Market and appraisal context

Kacere's signature photorealist midsection paintings appear regularly at post-war and contemporary art auctions. Because his mature work is so visually uniform—cropped female torsos rendered in sharp, photographic detail—attribution is generally straightforward. Collectors should note that his earlier Abstract Expressionist paintings, produced before 1963, represent a distinct and less frequently traded segment of his output. Provenance documentation, canvas dimensions, condition reports, and the date of execution are standard factors in appraising Kacere works. No published catalogue raisonné was identified, which means authentication may rely on expert connoisseurship and gallery or estate records rather than a comprehensive published reference.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Kacere's photorealist paintings are highly recognizable for their consistent subject—the cropped midsection of a woman wearing lingerie—which creates strong attribution clarity at auction
  2. Earlier abstract expressionist works (pre-1963) are less commonly encountered and may carry different market dynamics than the signature photorealist midsection series
  3. Provenance, condition, canvas size, and the specific period within the photorealist body of work are relevant factors for appraisal

Appraisal caveats

  • Kacere rejected the 'photorealist' label despite being widely classified as one of the original photorealists; attribution descriptions in auction catalogs may vary between 'photorealist,' 'hyperrealist,' and 'photo-realistic'
  • The concentration of his output on a single, narrow subject means that works outside the midsection series may require additional authentication scrutiny
  • No catalogue raisonné was identified in the source pack; appraisal should account for the absence of a comprehensive published catalogue

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 John Kacere

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is John Kacere 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 John Kacere artwork?

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