Ulrich Erben Auction Prices and Value Guide
Ulrich Erben auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 183 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Ulrich Erben auction prices: quick answer
Ulrich Erben auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Ulrich Erben
- Source records
- 183
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Ulrich Erben market snapshot
Ulrich Erben shows solid auction liquidity with 96 tracked lots. Median realized sale is around $4,257. Category concentration is still broad or sparse. Last 12 months recorded 13 sales. Latest recorded sale: 2025-12-04.
Realized price distribution
- Under $1,000 (16.9% · 10 sales)
- $1,000 to $10,000 (50.8% · 30 sales)
- $10,000+ (32.2% · 19 sales)
- Median sale (last 12 months)
- $7,000
- Sales recorded (last 12 months)
- 13
- Median shift vs prior year
- +100.0%
- Latest recorded sale
- 2025-12-04
Artist context
About Ulrich Erben
Ulrich Erben (born 1940, Düsseldorf) is a German painter recognized for his contributions to color field abstraction. Trained at the Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Erben developed a practice centered on the interplay of surface structure, paint application, and the subtle relationships between shades of white and color on a flat picture plane. His work sits within the broader lineage of abstract expressionism, yet is distinguished by its restrained, meditative approach to color and form. From 1980 to 2005, Erben served as Professor of Painting at the Kunstakademie Münster, influencing a generation of younger artists. He received the Konrad-von-Soest Prize for Visual Arts twice, in 1986 and 2008. His exhibition history includes institutional presentations such as Elementare Malerei at the Städtische Kunsthalle Mannheim in 1984.
Color field paintingAbstract expressionismOil on canvasWorks on paperAbstract compositions exploring color relationships and surface structure
Common works and media
Erben's output includes abstract oil paintings on canvas, works on paper, and prints. His canvases typically feature broad fields of muted or luminous color with hard-edge or softly modulated transitions, often in restrained palettes dominated by whites and pale hues. Works on paper and prints from exhibition editions also appear at auction. Collectors may encounter both unique paintings and editioned graphic works.
Market and appraisal context
Ulrich Erben's work appears with moderate frequency in the post-war and contemporary art market, with over 180 recorded auction lots. For collectors and appraisers, the most relevant valuation factors include the work's medium (oil on canvas versus works on paper), dimensions, date of execution, provenance, and condition. Large-scale canvases from his mature color field period tend to attract stronger market interest. His long academic career and institutional exhibition record lend provenance credibility, but the absence of a published catalogue raisonné means attribution should be supported by documented exhibition or collection history.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- No major auction-house results were available in the source pack for price-range calibration; appraisal should incorporate real-time comparable sales data.
- Attribution should be confirmed through provenance documentation, exhibition history, or expert review, as no catalogue raisonné was identified in the sources.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- RKD — Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- Library of Congress 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 Ulrich Erben 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 Ulrich Erben artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.