American, 1923–1971
Diane Arbus
811results on record
74%sell-through
$12,500median result (USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer)
$1,197,000record in our coverage
Drawn from 811 recorded results (697 sold · 114 passed) across 12 auction houses, 1998–2026. 8 upcoming lots on the ledger. What we cover
Median sold price by year typical estimate range median result USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer method · log scale
Where does a value land in this market?
The same figure also answers the seller's question: which house clears a work like this, and for how much — expected proceeds by house, from the sell-through the rest of this page is built on.
Every sold result for this market, low to high (log scale) — the dashed line is the median. Enter a value to see where it lands.
By medium where medium is recorded or stated in the catalog line
| Medium | Results | Sell-through | Median result (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| photography | 438 | 84% | $13,750 |
| ceramics & design | 22 | 77% | $11,400 |
| other | 10 | 80% | $132,000 |
| prints | 4 | 75% | $1,750 |
| painting | 3 | n/a | $9,560 |
Medium is recorded for 477 of 811 results (59%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.
Compared with Irving Penn Diane Arbus Irving Penn
| Metric | Diane Arbus | Irving Penn |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $12,500 | $28,800 |
| Record price | $1,197,000 | $567,600 |
| Results on record | 811 | 1,559 |
| Years active at auction | 1998–2026 | 1998–2026 |
Related artists: Irving PennRobert MapplethorpeHenri Cartier-bressonAnsel Adams
Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method
68/ 100
- Sell-through74%
- Meets estimate48%
- Market depth811 results
How readily and near-estimate this market clears — sell-through, estimate reliability, and depth, blended into one score. "Meets estimate" is the share of sold lots hammering at or above the low estimate, over catalogs that print a real appraisal: a house whose printed low is a starting bid would meet its estimate on every lot, so those lots are excluded from this term only — their prices and outcomes still count in the other two. Method →
Where this artist sells best
| House | Results | Sell-through | Median | vs. estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christie's | 245 | 95% | $13,750 | — |
| Sotheby's | 246 | 72% | $15,625 | 0.78× |
| Phillips | 196 | 77% | $13,380 | — |
| Heritage Auctions | 39 | 87% | $4,375 | — |
| Bonhams | 51 | 45% | $8,320 | 0.78× |
| Grisebach | 16 | — | $8,401 | — |
| Lempertz | 9 | 100% | $4,435 | — |
| Rago | 5 | 100% | $4,064 | — |
| Wright | 4 | 75% | $6,250 | — |
| Viscontea auction house | 2 | 50% | $1,641 | 0.57× |
| SBI Art Auction | 1 | 0% | — | — |
| Finarte | 2 | 0% | — | — |
The same artist across every house we cover — hammer-vs-estimate side by side. A dash in the estimate column can mean withheld rather than unpublished: the house publishes no hammer price, or its printed low is a starting bid rather than an appraisal. Method →
Prices realized 824 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 114 passed lots
| Date | Lot | Medium | vs. estimate | Estimate USD | Result USD, incl. premium | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2006·04 | Junior Interstate Ballroom Dance Champions, Yonkers, N.Y., 1962 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·04 | A young waitress at a nudist camp, N.J., 1963 | gelatin silver print | $100,000–$150,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·04 | Penelope Tree in her living room, N.Y.C., 1962 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·04 | 'albino sword swallower at a carnival, md' | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'a midget in his bedroom' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | ‘man and wife in the living one room of a nudist camp nj. 1963’ | titled by the photographer in ink on the reverse, matted, 1963 | $100,000–$150,000 | Sotheby's | ||
| 2006·04 | 'a child crying, n. j.' | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·11 | Girl in a coat lying on her bed, N.Y.C. 1968 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·11 | Two girls in matching bathing suits, Coney Island, N.Y., 1967 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·11 | Untitled 14, 1970-71 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $15,000–$25,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·11 | Couple on a Pier, N.Y.C., 1963 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $7,074–$10,611 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | Untitled (7), 1970-1971 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $15,000–$20,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | A Woman with her baby monkey, N.J., 1971 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | Man and a boy on a bench in Central Park, N.Y.C., 1962 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | A family one evening in a nudist camp, Pa., 1965 | gelatin silver print | $250,000–$350,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | Xmas tree in a living room in Levittown, L.I., 1963 | gelatin silver print | $150,000–$200,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | Man at a parade on Fifth Avenue, N.Y.C., 1969 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | Untitled (13), 1970-1971 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | Girl in a hat at Central Park Lake, N.Y.C., 1962 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·10 | 'man and a boy on a bench in central park, nyc' | $7,000–$10,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | 'the junior interstate ballroom dance champions, yonkers, ny' | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | 'child with a toy hand grenade in central park, n. y. c.' | $70,000–$100,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | Exasperated Boy with Toy Hand Grenade, N. Y. | $350,000–$500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | 'waitress, nudist camp, n. j.' | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | a jewish giant at home with his parents in the bronx, n. y. | $200,000–$300,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | 'teenage couple on hudson street, nyc' | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | selected images from 'a box of ten photographs' | $200,000–$300,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | 'patriot, with proud button and flag, n. y. c.' | $100,000–$150,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | 'Identical Twins, Roselle, N. J.' | $60,000–$90,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | Topless Dancer in Her Dressing Room, San Francisco, Cal., 1968 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·06 | Untitled (Woman in chair with ashtray), c. 1965 | gelatin silver print | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·06 | Woman with a veil on Fifth Avenue, N.Y.C., 1968 | gelatin silver print, printed 1973 by Neil Selkirk | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·05 | Triplets in Their Bedroom, N.J., 1963 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $14,668–$22,002 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·05 | Mia Villiers-Farrow on a Bed, 1964 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $7,334–$11,001 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·05 | Untitled (1), 1970-71 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $14,668–$22,002 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·05 | Boy with Straw Hat Waiting to March in a Post-War Parade, 1967 | gelatin silver print | $100,000–$150,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·04 | Albino Sword Swallower at a Carnival, MD, 1970 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·04 | Child in a Night Gown, Shelter Island, NY, 1957 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·04 | A Young Man and His Girlfriend with Hot Dogs in the Park, NYC, 1971 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·04 | Man and Boy on a Bench in Central Park, N.Y.C., 1962 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·04 | Patriotic Young Man with a Flag, N.Y.C., 1967 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·04 | Child with a Toy Hand Grenade, Central Park, N.Y.C., 1962 | gelatin silver print | $300,000–$400,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | 'eddie carmel, a jewish giant with his parents in the living room of their home, bronx, n. y.' | $250,000–$350,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | Untitled (5) | $30,000–$50,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | 'a family on their lawn one sunday in westchester, n. y.' | $200,000–$300,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | 'child with a toy hand grenade in central park, n. y. c.' | $50,000–$70,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | 'a flower girl at a wedding, conn.' | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | 'boy with a straw hat waiting to march in a pro-war parade, n.y.c.' | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | 'prince robert de rohan courtney' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·10 | Nudist Lady with Swan Sunglasses, PA., 1965 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $8,000–$10,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | A Jewish Couple Dancing, NYC, 1963 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Masked Woman in a Wheelchair, P.A., 1970 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $15,000–$20,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Anderson Hays Cooper, N.Y.C., 1968 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $9,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Girl in a Party Dress, N.Y.C., 1962 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Baseball Game in Central Park, N.Y.C., 1962 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Identical Twins, Roselle, N.J., 1967 | gelatin silver print on carte postale | $30,000–$50,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·07 | 'two ladies at the automat, n.y.c. 1966', printed later by neil selkirk | $10,185–$15,741 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | 'russian midget friends in a living room on 100th st., nyc' | $7,000–$10,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | 'waitress, nudist camp, new jersey' | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | selected portraits of the photographer's daughters | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | 'a jewish giant at home with his parents in the bronx, n. y.' | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | 'waitress, nudist camp' | $60,000–$80,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | Identical Twins (Cathleen and Colleen), Roselle, N. J. | $250,000–$350,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | a family on their lawn one sunday in westchester, n. y. | $80,000–$120,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·02 | Jorge Luis Borges in Central Park, N.Y.C., 1969 | gelatin silver print, printed 1970s by Neil Selkirk | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2003·10 | 'xmas tree in a living room in levittown, l. i.' | $7,000–$10,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·10 | 'a child crying, n. j.' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·10 | 'child with a toy hand grenade in central park, n. y. c.' | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·10 | 'a family one evening in a nudist camp, pa.' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·10 | Untitled (5) | $4,000–$6,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·10 | 'a family on their lawn one sunday in westchester, n. y.' | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·10 | 'the junior interstate ballroom dance champions, yonkers, n. y.' | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·10 | 'the king and queen of a senior citizens dance, n. y. c.' | $5,000–$8,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·10 | 'wax museum axe murderer, coney island, new york' | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·06 | Teenage couple on Hudson Street, N.Y.C., 1963 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $15,000–$25,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·12 | Erik Bruhn and Rudolph Nureyev, 1963 | gelatin silver print | $4,720–$6,294 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·11 | A Family One Evening in a Nudist Camp, PA | $3,009–$4,012 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | Anderson Hayes Cooper | oil on canvas | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·10 | Girl in Her Circus Costume, MD | oil on canvas | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·10 | James Brown is Out of Sight | oil on canvas | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Costume Lady in sunglasses, Central Park, N.Y.C., 1964 | gelatin silver print | $40,000–$60,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Teenage couple on Hudson Street, N.Y.C., 1963 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $25,000–$35,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Two Girls in Matching Bathing Suits, Coney Island, N.Y., 1967 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Headless woman, N.Y.C., 1961 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Madame Alix Grès, for Harper's Bazaar , February 1964 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Lady bartender at home with a souvenir dog, New Orleans, La., 1964 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Mother holding her child, N.J., 1967 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | A Couple Kissing on Stage, N.Y.C., 1963 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Untitled (1), 1970-71 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Two Ladies at the Automat, N.Y.C., 1966 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | A Jewish couple dancing, N.Y.C., 1963 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Junior Interstate Ballroom Dance Champions, Yonkers, N.Y., 1962 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $15,000–$25,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Triplets in their bedroom, N.J., 1963 | gelatin silver print, printed c. 1972 by Neil Selkirk | $25,000–$35,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Anderson Hays Cooper, N.Y.C., 1968 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2001·12 | Young man and his girfriend with hot dogs in the park, N.Y.C. | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·10 | Self-portrait | $80,000–$100,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·10 | Patriotic young man with a flag, N.Y.C. | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·09 | Man at a parade on Fifth Avenue, N.Y.C., 1969 | gelatin silver print, printed later by Neil Selkirk | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2001·09 | A house on a hill, Hollywood, Ca., 1963 | gelatin silver print, printed 1985 by Neil Selkirk | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2001·04 | A family one evening in a nudist camp, Pa. | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.