Samuel Matthews Middleton Auction Prices and Value Guide
Samuel Matthews Middleton auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 492 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Samuel Matthews Middleton auction prices: quick answer
Samuel Matthews Middleton auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Samuel Matthews Middleton
- Source records
- 492
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Samuel Matthews Middleton
Samuel Matthews Middleton (1927–2015) was an American mixed-media artist, collagist, printmaker, and painter born in Harlem, New York City. After serving with the United States Merchant Marine and traveling widely, he lived in Mexico and Sweden before settling in the Netherlands around 1961. He became a prominent figure among the expatriate African American artists who sought greater creative freedom in postwar Europe. Middleton's abstract collages and prints integrate representational elements drawn from jazz music and the Dutch landscape, reflecting the two cultural worlds he inhabited. His work is held in the Whitney Museum of American Art permanent collection, which featured him in its landmark 1962 exhibition "40 Artists Under 40" and again in the 2015 inaugural exhibition for its new building on the High Line. Dutch and American institutional collections continue to hold and exhibit his work.
Abstract mixed-media art with representational elementscollagelithographywatercolorgouachejazz and music-inspired abstractionDutch landscape and visual environment
Common works and media
Collectors most frequently encounter Middleton's abstract collages, which combine painted and printed elements with paper and fabric. He also produced lithographs, etchings, watercolors, gouaches, and mixed-media paintings. Common subjects include jazz-inspired compositions, musical motifs, and landscapes reflecting his adopted Dutch surroundings. Works range from small works on paper to larger mixed-media panels.
Market and appraisal context
Sam Middleton's work appears at auction primarily as collages, lithographs, watercolors, gouaches, and mixed-media compositions. Provenance linked to the Whitney Museum or documented exhibition history can meaningfully affect valuation. Condition assessment is especially important for works on paper. Edition details for prints, date of execution, and publication in exhibition catalogues are key appraisal factors. Because no single catalogue raisonné was identified, attribution should be confirmed against RKD records and institutional holdings. Collectors should review comparable public auction results for similar media and periods.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Post-War and Contemporary Prints
- Contemporary Mixed Media
Value drivers
- Provenance tied to the Whitney Museum collection and documented exhibition history strengthens attribution and value
- Works on paper including collages, lithographs, watercolors, and gouaches are commonly encountered media at auction
- Condition, edition size for prints, date of execution, and documented exhibition or publication history are material factors
Appraisal caveats
- No single published catalogue raisonné was identified in the source pack; attribution should be cross-referenced with RKD records and exhibition history.
- Market data from major auction houses was not available in the collected sources; appraisal should reference comparable realized prices from auction databases.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- RKD library authority
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 Samuel Matthews Middleton 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 Samuel Matthews Middleton artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.