Tony Oursler Auction Prices and Value Guide
Tony Oursler auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 318 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Tony Oursler auction prices: quick answer
Tony Oursler auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Tony Oursler
- Source records
- 318
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About Tony Oursler
Tony Oursler (born 1957) is an American multimedia and installation artist recognized for his pioneering work integrating video projection into sculptural forms. A graduate of the California Institute of the Arts (BFA, 1979), Oursler emerged in the 1980s as a distinctive voice in video art and has since built a career spanning installation, sculpture, performance, and painting. He is best known for works that project video of human faces and figures onto three-dimensional objects, creating unsettling and psychologically charged encounters. His practice explores themes of media saturation, identity, and the human psyche. Oursler lives and works in New York City. His work is held in major public collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Tate in London, and he has exhibited internationally at institutions, galleries, and biennials. His official site documents ongoing exhibitions and collaborations through 2026.
Video artContemporary installation artVideoSculptureInstallationPerformanceProjected faces and figures on sculptural formsPsycho-social themes and media culture
Common works and media
Oursler's output includes video-projection sculptures—fabricated forms onto which moving images are projected—as well as freestanding video installations, single-channel video works, editioned video prints and photographs, mixed-media wall pieces, and occasional paintings. His sculptural works often incorporate found objects or fabric dolls paired with projected facial imagery. Collectors may also encounter video tapes, audio works, and collaborative projects documented on his official site.
Market and appraisal context
Tony Oursler's work appears regularly at auction, with over 300 recorded lots. Appraisal value depends heavily on the specific medium: immersive video installations and projection-based sculptural works generally carry the strongest market interest, while editioned prints, photographs, and smaller 2D works trade at lower tiers. Collectors should verify edition numbers, certificate authenticity, and the condition of electronic components for media-based pieces. Provenance from significant exhibitions or institutional collections can substantially affect value. Comparable auction results should account for work type, scale, date of execution, and edition size.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Value drivers
- Work type matters significantly: video installations and sculptural works with projection tend to command higher values than flat works or editioned video prints
- Edition and provenance documentation is critical for video and media works, which may have limited edition runs
- Exhibition history and institutional provenance (museum shows, biennials) can materially affect appraisal
Appraisal caveats
- Video and installation works require assessment of condition for all electronic and media components, including playback equipment compatibility.
- Edition number and certificate authenticity are essential valuation factors for Oursler's media works.
- The 318 auction records in the Appraisily database reflect a range of work types and sale contexts; individual results vary widely.
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
- Tate museum or university
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
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 Tony Oursler 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 Tony Oursler artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.