Woody Crumbo Auction Prices and Value Guide
Woody Crumbo auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 292 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Woody Crumbo auction prices: quick answer
Woody Crumbo auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Woody Crumbo
- Source records
- 292
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Woody Crumbo
Woody Crumbo (1912–1989), born Woodrow Wilson Crumbo, was a Potawatomi artist, educator, and performer from Oklahoma. A citizen of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Crumbo became one of the most recognized Native American painters of the twentieth century. His work draws on Potawatomi and broader Plains Indian cultural traditions, depicting ceremonial dances, wildlife, and spiritual narratives in a bold, expressive style. Beyond painting, Crumbo was an accomplished flutist and traditional dancer who toured widely, sharing Native American performing arts alongside his visual art. He also contributed to Native arts education, mentoring younger generations of Indigenous artists. His paintings are held in museum and institutional collections, and his name appears regularly at auction, where collectors seek his distinctive portrayals of animal subjects and dance ceremonies. Crumbo's dual legacy as both a visual artist and cultural ambassador has cemented his importance in the canon of Native American art.
Native American paintingpaintingprintmakingNative American ceremonial dancewildlife and animalsPotawatomi cultural traditions
Common works and media
Crumbo is best known for paintings on board and canvas featuring Native American ceremonial dancers, wildlife — particularly antelope, deer, and horses — and narrative scenes drawn from Potawatomi oral traditions. Titles such as Animal Dance, Antelope on Plains, and Ball Game between the Buffalo and Fish Clan reflect his characteristic subjects. Print editions and works on paper also appear in the secondary market. Collectors encountering Crumbo's work will most often find mid-20th-century paintings in gouache, oil, or tempera, as well as serigraphs and limited-edition prints.
Market and appraisal context
Woody Crumbo's work appears regularly in the Native American art auction market, with nearly three hundred recorded lots across major and regional auction houses. Paintings on board or canvas depicting ceremonial dances and wildlife subjects tend to attract the strongest collector interest. Prints and works on paper also circulate, generally at lower price points than original paintings. Provenance, documented exhibition history, and clear attribution are key valuation factors, as is the condition of works dating from the mid-20th century. Collectors should verify attribution carefully and review individual comparable sale records for current market benchmarks.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Value drivers
- Medium and technique — paintings on board or canvas versus works on paper or prints affect value considerably
- Subject matter — works depicting ceremonial dance, wildlife, and Potawatomi narrative scenes are characteristic and sought after
- Provenance and attribution — documented exhibition history or museum holdings strengthen attribution confidence
- Condition — age-appropriate condition of works from the mid-20th century is an important factor
Appraisal caveats
- Market data in this profile is inferred from auction-database presence and authority records rather than detailed realized-price analysis. Individual lot records and comparable sales should be reviewed for appraisal purposes.
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
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 Woody Crumbo 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 Woody Crumbo artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.