Paul Wonner Auction Prices and Value Guide

Paul Wonner auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 311 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Paul Wonner auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
Paul Wonner
Source records
311
Market update
2026-02-16

Artist context

About Paul Wonner

Paul Wonner (1920–2008) was an American painter associated with the Bay Area Figurative Movement and later celebrated for his meticulously rendered hyperrealist still lifes. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Wonner earned three degrees from the University of California, Berkeley—a B.A. in 1952, an M.A. in 1953, and an M.L.S. in 1955. He rose to prominence in the 1950s alongside artists such as Richard Diebenkorn and his partner Theophilus Brown, applying abstract expressionist energy to figurative subjects. His mid-1950s series of dreamlike male bathers and boys with bouquets brought early recognition. After joining the UCLA faculty in 1962, Wonner gradually shifted from loose figurative painting to precisely detailed still lifes in a hyperrealist style, which became his signature mode for the rest of his career. His work is held in major museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Wonner died on April 23, 2008, in San Francisco.

Bay Area Figurative MovementAbstract ExpressionismPhotorealism / Hyperrealismoil paintingworks on paperstill lifesmale bathersfigurative scenesboys with bouquets

Common works and media

Wonner is best known for oil paintings. His late-career still lifes depict everyday objects—books, flowers, hats, and tableware—arranged in sharply detailed, hyperrealist compositions. Earlier works include figurative paintings of male bathers and dreamlike figurative scenes in a loose, expressionist handling. Works on paper, including drawings, also appear in auction records. Prints are less commonly encountered. Collectors will most frequently find still-life paintings from the late 1960s onward and, less often, Bay Area figurative canvases from the 1950s and early 1960s.

Market and appraisal context

Paul Wonner's paintings appear regularly at auction, with his later hyperrealist still lifes and his earlier Bay Area figurative canvases being the most encountered categories. Key valuation factors include the work's period—1950s figurative pieces versus late-career still lifes—as well as medium, scale, condition, provenance, and exhibition or publication history. Works tied to notable California collections may carry additional collector interest. Auction results vary meaningfully across periods and subjects, so comparable public sale records should be consulted for any individual work. The moderate volume of recorded lots suggests an active but selective secondary market.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Period: early Bay Area figurative works (1950s–1960s) versus later hyperrealist still lifes command different collector interest
  2. Medium and scale: oil paintings are more common at auction than works on paper
  3. Provenance: California collection history or estate origin can affect desirability
  4. Subject matter: still lifes and figurative compositions may attract distinct buyer segments
  5. Condition, exhibition history, and publication record are standard factors

Appraisal caveats

  • Auction results vary considerably by period, subject, and quality; no single price range is representative.
  • Market observations are based on publicly documented auction activity and should not substitute for a professional appraisal.
  • The 311 auction records associated with this artist on Appraisily suggest a moderate but active secondary market; individual lot results should be reviewed for comparability.

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 Wonner

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Paul Wonner 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 Wonner artwork?

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