Nancy Graves Auction Prices and Value Guide
Nancy Graves auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 320 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Nancy Graves auction prices: quick answer
Nancy Graves auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Nancy Graves
- Source records
- 320
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Nancy Graves
Nancy Graves (1939–1995) was an American sculptor, painter, printmaker, and filmmaker whose work drew on natural history, cartography, and scientific imagery. Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and active in New York City, Graves became known for sculptures that reference camels, botanical specimens, and lunar maps, often blurring the boundary between representation and abstraction. At age 29 she received a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art, making her the youngest artist and fifth woman to earn that distinction at the time. Her work is held in major public collections including the Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Graves also produced paintings, prints, and films, and is associated with post-war conceptual art in the United States.
Conceptual artSculpturePaintingPrintmakingFilmNatural phenomenaCamelsLunar maps and cartographic imagery
Common works and media
Graves produced sculptures in plaster, wax, bronze, and steel, often referencing animal forms, botanical structures, and geological specimens. She also created paintings on canvas, works on paper, and editioned prints. Her early camel sculptures from the late 1960s are among her most recognized works. Collectors may encounter lithographs, screenprints, and other graphic works as well as sculptural multiples at auction.
Market and appraisal context
Nancy Graves's work appears at auction across Post-War and Contemporary Art and Prints and Multiples sales. Valuation depends on medium, scale, provenance, condition, and date of execution. Large sculptures and early works connected to her natural-history subjects tend to be the most sought after. Prints and works on paper are more accessible at auction and should be evaluated for edition details, signature, and documentation. Collectors should review comparable public auction records and provenance history when considering an appraisal.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Post-War and Contemporary Art
- Prints and Multiples
Value drivers
- Medium and scale: large-scale sculptures and installation works tend to command higher prices than works on paper or prints.
- Institutional provenance: works with exhibition history at major museums such as the Whitney, MoMA, or National Gallery of Art carry stronger provenance documentation.
- Period and subject: early sculptural works referencing natural forms (camels, botanical and geological subjects) are closely associated with her most recognized output.
- Edition and attribution: prints and multiples should be checked for edition number, signature, and documentation.
Appraisal caveats
- Auction records and comparable lots should be reviewed for specific medium, date, condition, and provenance before any appraisal conclusion.
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
- VIAF library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
- Wikipedia wikipedia
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 Nancy 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 Nancy Graves artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.