# Adolph Gottlieb artist context and auction value notes Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/adolph-gottlieb/ Profile generated: 2026-05-02T10:00:00.000Z Quality: high confidence, strong sources ## Artist identity - Birth date: 1903-03-14 - Death date: 1974-03-04 - Nationality: American - Movements: Abstract Expressionism - Common media: Oil painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Graphic art ## About Adolph Gottlieb Adolph Gottlieb (1903–1974) was an American abstract expressionist painter, sculptor, and printmaker born in New York City. A founding figure of the Abstract Expressionist movement, he studied with Robert Henri and John Sloan before attending the Educational Alliance Art School. Gottlieb is recognized for his Pictograph paintings of the 1940s, which incorporated archetypal symbols drawn from mythology and primitive art, and his later Burst series, featuring luminous orb forms suspended above bold gestural strokes. He was among the artists known as the Irascibles who championed avant-garde art in postwar America. His work is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Tate, and other major institutions worldwide. ## Common works and media Gottlieb's most commonly encountered works include oil on canvas paintings from the Pictograph and Burst series, screen prints and lithographs, works on paper, and occasional sculptures. His prints—often produced in editions—are widely represented in auction records. Collectors may also find later landscapes and mixed-media works. The 1,200-plus lots documented across auction databases reflect sustained institutional and collector interest. ## Market and appraisal context Adolph Gottlieb's auction market is deep and liquid, with 630 documented lots and 491 priced results spanning from 1998 to April 2026. The price distribution is exceptionally wide—ranging from $10 at the low end to $10.53 million at the high—reflecting the vast difference between editioned prints and major canvas paintings. The median price of $2,750 and 25th percentile of $1,700 indicate that prints and works on paper dominate volume, while the 75th percentile at $85,000 marks the threshold where significant paintings and unique works begin. Thirty-five lots appeared in the most recent 12 months versus 33 in the prior period, showing stable, consistent turnover. Top-tier houses including Christie's, Sotheby's, Phillips, and Bonhams handle premium material, while mid-tier and regional houses such as Swann Auction Galleries, Rago Arts and Auction Center, Wright, and RoGallery regularly offer prints and smaller works. A March 2026 Christie's sale of the oil painting 'Sand' realized £203,200, confirming continued demand for important canvases at the upper market. ## Auction-house-backed market evidence Adolph Gottlieb's auction market is deep and liquid, with 630 documented lots and 491 priced results spanning from 1998 to April 2026. The price distribution is exceptionally wide—ranging from $10 at the low end to $10.53 million at the high—reflecting the vast difference between editioned prints and major canvas paintings. The median price of $2,750 and 25th percentile of $1,700 indicate that prints and works on paper dominate volume, while the 75th percentile at $85,000 marks the threshold where significant paintings and unique works begin. Thirty-five lots appeared in the most recent 12 months versus 33 in the prior period, showing stable, consistent turnover. Top-tier houses including Christie's, Sotheby's, Phillips, and Bonhams handle premium material, while mid-tier and regional houses such as Swann Auction Galleries, Rago Arts and Auction Center, Wright, and RoGallery regularly offer prints and smaller works. A March 2026 Christie's sale of the oil painting 'Sand' realized £203,200, confirming continued demand for important canvases at the upper market. ### Appraisal notes Appraisily would use the 630-lot auction record index to identify comparable sales matched by medium, period, dimensions, and series. For an appraisal submission, collectors should provide high-resolution photographs showing the full work and any signature, exact dimensions, medium confirmation (oil on canvas, screenprint, lithograph, etc.), edition number and size for prints, condition report noting any restoration or damage, and any provenance documentation linking the work to a notable collection, gallery, or exhibition. The wide price dispersion in Gottlieb's records makes precise comparable selection critical—a Burst serigraph and a Burst oil on canvas occupy entirely different value tiers. Catalogue raisonné confirmation is strongly recommended for unique works, as attribution questions directly affect value. ### Valuation factors - [object Object] - [object Object] - [object Object] - [object Object] - [object Object] - [object Object] ### Collector notes ### Market caveats - The $10.53 million maximum price represents an outlier tied to a major museum-quality canvas; it should not be used as a benchmark for typical works. - The $50 'Oil/Canvas board Abstract Signed Adolph Gottlieb' lot at Orion Antiques has no image and may involve attribution questions—low-price results at regional houses require careful verification. - Two 'Guild Hall Is For Everyone' lots (1970) did not realize prices (passed/unsold), suggesting that certain poster multiples may not meet reserve or buyer interest at some venues. - Prices span USD and GBP; the Christie's 'Sand' result (£203,200) should be currency-adjusted when used as a comparable. - Appraisily auction signals are derived from aggregated public auction feeds and may not capture private sales, dealer transactions, or every auction house's complete records. - Attribution should be verified against the published catalogue raisonné and expert opinion; auction-house cataloguing may vary in rigor across tier levels. ### Market evidence sources - undefined: https://appraisily.com/api/scraper-search/artists/adolph-gottlieb/seo-profile?recentLimit=24&relatedLimit=0 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-american-1903-1974-offset-lithographic-exhibition-poster-h-34-w-54-5-frame-size-h-36-w-56-5-1349-c-68442569fe - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-oil-canvas-board-abstract-signed-adolph-gottlieb-344-c-12ca4de6cd - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-1903-1974-pink-ground-29-c-3c0680abec - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-1903-1974-blue-night-28-c-714d75f0db - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-signed-screenprint-green-foreground-1972-231-c-19b6f11a98 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-american-1903-1974-black-splash-serigraph-132-c-e8ddf23cc3 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-american-1903-1974-black-splash-under-red-sphere-serigraph-131-c-eac3639399 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-1903-1974-sand-oil-on-canvas48-1-8-x-36-1-8in-122-2-x-681-c-2809b38e17 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-green-dream-120-c-2a55824805 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-1903-1974-blue-on-black-acrylic-on-paper-mounted-on-fib-265-c-9e4f115d65 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-american-1903-1974-2-c-00a7bb0b7d - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-burst-signed-adolph-gottlieb-152-c-19a60a30dc - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-pictograph-circa-1944-74-c-c1de2071c4 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-american-1903-1974-guild-hall-is-for-everyone-1970-457-c-b2340c9a0f - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-adolph-gottlieb-american-1903-1974-guild-hall-is-for-everyone-1970-399-c-9570dc4486 ## Appraisily data basis Appraisily artist pages combine identity research from museum, library authority, and scholarly sources with auction-house records, sale dates, realized prices, provenance notes, and comparable lot data when those records are available. ## Sources - Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n94077711 - RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/32947 - VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/62353349/ - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolph_Gottlieb - The Museum of Modern Art: https://www.moma.org/artists/2268 - Tate: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/adolph-gottlieb-1195 - Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365388