Morris Graves Auction Prices and Value Guide

Morris Graves auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 337 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Morris Graves auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
Morris Graves
Source records
337
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Morris Graves

Morris Cole Graves (1910–2001) was an American painter and one of the first Modern artists from the Pacific Northwest to earn wide national and international recognition. Associated with the Northwest School, Graves developed a deeply personal visual language rooted in the muted landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, East Asian aesthetics, and spiritual philosophy. Reviewers often described his approach as Mysticism. His paintings employ a recurring personal iconography — birds, flowers, chalices, and other symbolic forms — to investigate the nature of consciousness and perception. Works by Graves are held in major museum collections including the Museum of Modern Art and Tate, and his career is documented in the Getty Union List of Artist Names, the RKD, and the Library of Congress authority files.

American ModernismMysticismNorthwest Schooloil on canvastemperaink on paperbirdsflowerschalicesconsciousness and spirituality

Common works and media

Graves is best known for intimate tempera and oil paintings on canvas and panel, as well as ink drawings on paper. His most recognizable subjects include solitary birds, flowers, chalices, and other symbolic forms rendered in the restrained, earth-toned palette of the Pacific Northwest. Collectors may also encounter works on paper, prints, and later-career paintings that reflect his continued engagement with Asian-influenced spirituality and nature-based symbolism.

Market and appraisal context

Morris Graves' work appears at auction primarily within Post-War and Contemporary Art and American Art categories. Key factors that influence appraisal include the specific medium (tempera, oil, or ink), the period of execution, subject matter (especially his sought-after bird paintings), documented provenance, exhibition history, and condition. Works with strong museum provenance or early-period dating from his recognized mystical phase tend to attract the most collector attention. As with any 20th-century American painter, authoritative attribution and clear condition reporting are essential for accurate valuation.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Provenance and exhibition history — works linked to major museum exhibitions or well-documented estate provenance carry stronger attribution certainty
  2. Medium and period — earlier tempera and ink works from his recognized mystical/nature period are typically more sought after than later works
  3. Subject matter — paintings featuring his signature bird imagery and spiritual iconography tend to attract stronger collector interest
  4. Condition and attribution — as with all 20th-century American painters, documented condition, clear signature, and authoritative attribution are essential

Appraisal caveats

  • Market value depends heavily on individual work quality, size, medium, provenance, and condition; broad generalizations about the artist's auction performance should be avoided
  • No specific realized auction prices are available in this source pack; collectors should consult live auction databases for current comparable sales data

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 Morris Graves

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Morris Graves 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 Morris Graves artwork?

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