Paul McCarthy Auction Prices and Value Guide

Paul McCarthy auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 297 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Paul McCarthy auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
Paul McCarthy
Source records
297
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Paul McCarthy

Paul McCarthy (born 1945, Salt Lake City, Utah) is an American contemporary artist based in Los Angeles recognized internationally for his provocative performances, large-scale installations, sculptures, and video works. Active since the late 1960s, McCarthy has built a practice that interrogates American popular culture, consumerism, and media imagery through visceral, often transgressive tableaux that draw on childhood iconography and fairy-tale narratives. His work spans performance art, body art, and multimedia installation, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential West Coast conceptual artists of his generation. McCarthy's pieces are held in the permanent collections of major institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Contemporary ArtPerformance ArtBody ArtPerformanceInstallationSculptureVideo

Common works and media

Collectors and appraisers most frequently encounter Paul McCarthy's work in the form of silicone and fiberglass sculptures, editioned multiples and prints, video and film works, drawings on paper, large-scale inflatable sculptures, and mixed-media installations. His work often references reinterpreted Disney characters, Pinocchio, Santa Claus, and other figures from fairy tales and American consumer culture. Sculptural works in resin, silicone, and bronze appear at auction alongside limited-edition photographs and screenprints.

Market and appraisal context

Paul McCarthy's work appears regularly at major auction houses in categories spanning contemporary art, post-war art, and editions. Collectors encounter a wide range of formats: unique sculptures and installations, editioned multiples, photographs, drawings, and video works. Valuation depends heavily on medium, scale, edition size, provenance, exhibition history, and date of execution. Large-scale sculptural and installation pieces command different market levels than editioned prints or early video works. Provenance tied to recognized galleries or museum exhibitions is a significant factor. As with many contemporary artists working across multiple media, auction results can vary considerably by work type.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Appraisal caveats

  • Paul McCarthy works across an unusually broad range of media, from large-scale inflatable sculptures to intimate video performances, so medium, scale, and edition status are critical to any appraisal.
  • The artist's work is held by major institutions including Tate, MoMA, and others, but auction results vary significantly by medium and period.

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 Paul McCarthy

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Paul McCarthy 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 Paul McCarthy artwork?

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