Wifredo Lam Auction Prices and Value Guide
Wifredo Lam auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 3,933 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Wifredo Lam auction prices: quick answer
Wifredo Lam auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Wifredo Lam
- Source records
- 3,933
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Wifredo Lam
Wifredo Lam (1902–1982) was a Cuban painter, sculptor, and printmaker whose work fused European modernist traditions with Afro-Caribbean visual and spiritual culture. Born in Sagua La Grande, Cuba, to a Chinese father and a mother of Afro-Iberian descent, Lam trained as an academic painter in Spain before relocating to Paris in the late 1930s. There he absorbed the innovations of Cubism and befriended Pablo Picasso. During World War II he joined a circle of Surrealist artists in Marseille, where he began developing the hybrid human, plant, and animal figures that became his signature. After returning to the Caribbean and later settling in France and Italy, Lam produced paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and prints that made him a bridge between the European avant-garde and Caribbean identity. His work is held by major institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, Tate, and the Centre Pompidou.
SurrealismModernismoil paintinglithographysculptureceramicshybrid human-plant-animal figuresAfro-Caribbean spirituality and mythology
Common works and media
Lam worked across a broad range of media. Oil paintings on canvas form the core of his output, alongside gouaches and watercolors on paper. He produced numerous lithographs and engravings, many in illustrated book collaborations with poets. Ceramic plates and vessels, bronze sculptures, and mural-scale wall paintings are also documented. Collectors may encounter signed and numbered prints, unique works on paper, and occasional ceramic editions at auction.
Market and appraisal context
Wifredo Lam's work appears regularly at international auction, spanning Post-War & Contemporary Art and Latin American Art sales. Oil paintings from his mature period, particularly those featuring his characteristic hybrid figures, tend to be the most sought after. Works on paper, lithographs, and ceramics by Lam also circulate widely. Key factors in appraisal include the work's medium, date, subject matter, provenance, condition, and confirmation against the 2016 catalogue raisonné. Exhibition history at major museums and documented provenance strengthen value. Prints and multiples should be evaluated for edition size, signature, and condition.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Value drivers
- Medium: oil paintings on canvas generally command the strongest prices; works on paper, prints, and ceramics trade at lower tiers
- Period: works from the 1940s Caribbean period and the mature Paris/Italy decades are most sought after
- Provenance: exhibition history at major institutions (MoMA, Tate, Centre Pompidou) and inclusion in the 2016 catalogue raisonné strengthen value
- Edition and print type: lithographs and engravings exist in multiples; edition number, signature, and condition materially affect value
Appraisal caveats
- Attribution should be verified against the published catalogue raisonné (Wifredo Lam: Catalogue Raisonné, 2016) or a qualified specialist.
- Condition is especially important for works on paper and prints; restoration history can significantly affect appraisal.
- Market performance varies across mediums and periods; recent comparable auction results should be reviewed for current estimates.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
- Tate museum or university
- RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- VIAF / OCLC 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 Wifredo Lam 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 Wifredo Lam artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.