Sean Scully Auction Prices and Value Guide
Sean Scully auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 1,097 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Sean Scully auction prices: quick answer
Sean Scully auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Sean Scully
- Source records
- 1,097
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About Sean Scully
Sean Scully is an Irish-born American painter, printmaker, sculptor, and photographer recognized as one of the most influential abstract painters of his generation. Born in Dublin in 1945, he grew up in London before relocating to New York in 1975. Scully became an American citizen in 1983. His work is defined by rhythmic compositions of stripes and layered blocks of color that move beyond the austerity of Minimalism toward what critics have described as emotional or spiritual abstraction. Twice nominated for the Turner Prize, Scully has exhibited widely and his paintings, prints, and works in other media are held in major museum collections around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate in London, and many others. Collectors encounter his work regularly at international auction.
Abstract PaintingPost-MinimalismOil paintingPrintmakingSculpturePhotographyAbstract stripes and bands
Common works and media
Scully's most commonly encountered works at auction include oil paintings on canvas and linen featuring his characteristic bands and blocks of color, aquatint and etching prints, lithographs, works on paper in watercolor or pastel, photographs, and occasional sculptural pieces. Prints often appear in signed and numbered editions. Collectors may also find artist books, portfolios, and exhibition posters associated with his extensive exhibition history.
Market and appraisal context
Sean Scully's auction footprint spans over a thousand recorded lots across paintings, prints, works on paper, photographs, and sculpture. Large-scale oil paintings from mature periods tend to be the most sought-after at auction, while prints and editions in smaller formats provide a more accessible entry point for collectors. When evaluating a Scully work for appraisal, key factors include the medium, dimensions, date of execution, provenance history, any museum exhibition or publication record, and the condition of the piece. Comparable auction results should be reviewed for works of similar scale and period rather than relying on broad averages.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- Market values depend heavily on size, medium, date, condition, and provenance of the individual work.
- The auction record should be consulted for comparable lots; generalized statements about price levels are not a substitute for lot-specific research.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Library of Congress library authority
- RKD - Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
- Tate museum or university
- VIAF library authority
- Wikidata 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 Sean Scully 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 Sean Scully artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.