Margaret Keane Auction Prices and Value Guide

Margaret Keane auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 269 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Margaret Keane auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
Margaret Keane
Source records
269
Market update
2026-02-06

Margaret Keane market snapshot

Margaret Keane shows deep auction liquidity with 155 tracked lots. Median realized sale is around $5,500. Category concentration is still broad or sparse. Last 12 months recorded 13 sales. Latest recorded sale: 2026-01-12.

Realized price distribution

  • Under $1,000 (22.4% · 26 sales)
  • $1,000 to $10,000 (58.6% · 68 sales)
  • $10,000+ (19.0% · 22 sales)
Median sale (last 12 months)
$4,500
Sales recorded (last 12 months)
13
Median shift vs prior year
+28.6%
Latest recorded sale
2026-01-12

Artist context

About Margaret Keane

Born

1927

Died

2022

Nationality

American

Also known as

Margaret D. H. Keane, Margaret Keane McGuire

Margaret Keane (1927–2022) was an American painter celebrated for her distinctive portraits of figures with oversized, soulful eyes. Working primarily in oil and mixed media, she depicted women, children, and animals rendered in a sentimental, immediately recognizable style that found broad popular appeal in the mid-twentieth century. Her images were reproduced widely on prints, plates, and other consumer goods. For years her work was publicly credited to her then-husband, Walter Keane, until she successfully reclaimed authorship in a 1986 federal court proceeding in Hawaii, where she demonstrated her technique live. The Keane Eyes Gallery continues to represent her authorized estate and offers original paintings, drawings, sculptures, and limited-edition prints.

Big Eyes art (distinctive figurative style, not a formal movement)Oil paintingMixed mediaLithographic printsDrawingWomen with large expressive eyesChildren with large expressive eyesAnimals with large expressive eyes

Common works and media

Keane produced original oil paintings and mixed-media works on canvas and paper, typically depicting wide-eyed women, children, and animals. Signed and open-edition lithographic prints, posters, and limited-edition reproductions are common in the secondary market. Sculptural editions, pendants, handbags, scarves, dolls, and illustrated books were also produced under her authorized brand. Collectors most frequently encounter mid-century vintage prints, later signed limited editions, and decorative objects featuring her imagery.

Market and appraisal context

Margaret Keane's market spans original oil paintings, works on paper, signed limited-edition lithographs, and a large volume of mass-produced reproductions. Original paintings with confirmed attribution and documented provenance are the most sought-after category. Collectors should be aware of the historical misattribution to Walter Keane, which affects older labels and some auction records. Signed prints and limited editions from the Keane Eyes Gallery carry clearer provenance. Mass-market items such as posters, plates, and decorative objects are generally not investment-grade. Condition, signature, edition size, and documented provenance are the primary factors in any appraisal.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Originality: oil paintings and original works on paper command significantly higher values than reproductions
  2. Attribution: works must be confirmed as by Margaret Keane herself, given the historical Walter Keane misattribution
  3. Medium: original paintings versus open-edition prints, lithographs, posters, or decorative objects (plates, cups, dolls)
  4. Provenance and signature: signed limited editions and works with documented provenance through Keane Eyes Gallery are more collectible
  5. Condition: as with all works on paper and canvas, condition significantly affects value

Appraisal caveats

  • Mass-produced reproductions (posters, plates, cups) are widely available and typically hold modest value compared to original paintings or signed limited editions
  • The Walter Keane attribution history means some older auction records or labels may misattribute the artist; always verify authorship
  • No specific auction price records were available in the collected source pack; consult live auction databases for realized prices

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Recent sale records

Selected public auction records currently in the Appraisily lot index. Use them as market context, then request a formal appraisal before you sell, insure, or donate.

Don't price your Margaret Keane from these lots

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 Margaret Keane

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Margaret Keane 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 Margaret Keane artwork?

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