American, 1938–2009
Ernie Barnes
158results on record
87%sell-through
$124,688median result (USD, incl. premium; 97% observed, 3% estimated from hammer)
$15,275,000record in our coverage
Drawn from 158 recorded results (138 sold · 20 passed) across 7 auction houses, 2012–2026. 2 upcoming lots on the ledger. What we cover
Median sold price by year typical estimate range median result USD, incl. premium; 97% observed, 3% estimated from hammer method · log scale
Where does a value land in this market?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| painting | 59 | 100% | $193,750 |
| works on paper | 4 | 75% | $28,050 |
Medium is recorded for 63 of 158 results (40%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.
Compared with Andy Warhol Ernie Barnes Andy Warhol
| Metric | Ernie Barnes | Andy Warhol |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $124,688 | $32,500 |
| Record price | $15,275,000 | $195,040,000 |
| Results on record | 158 | 15,103 |
| Years active at auction | 2012–2026 | 1998–2026 |
Related artists: Andy WarholAlexander CalderSam FrancisTom Wesselmann
Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method
81/ 100
- Sell-through87%
- Meets estimate63%
- Market depth158 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonhams | 52 | 81% | $37,028 | 0.88× |
| Christie's | 31 | 100% | $478,800 | — |
| Heritage Auctions | 30 | 97% | $75,000 | — |
| Phillips | 25 | 76% | $151,200 | — |
| Sotheby's | 15 | 80% | $233,700 | — |
| Freeman's | Hindman | 4 | 100% | $54,688 | 1.89× |
| Rago | 1 | 100% | $76,200 | — |
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 A dash in the estimate column can mean withheld rather than unpublished: the house publishes no hammer price, or its printed low is a starting bid rather than an appraisal.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 160 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 20 passed lots
| Date | Lot | Medium | vs. estimate | Estimate USD | Result USD, incl. premium | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026·09 | Group of Two Works on Paper | $8,000–$12,000 | upcoming | Bonhams | ||
| 98 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $39, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2026·08 | Destination Unknown , 1979 | offset lithograph in colors | $1,500–$2,500 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2026·07 | Out of Nowhere | acrylic on canvas | $60,000–$80,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2026·07 | Defeat | $25,000–$35,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·06 | Two works: (i) Study Sketch; (ii) Study Sketch II | $18,000–$25,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·05 | Study of The Sugar Shack (4th Point of View) | acrylic on paper | $100,000–$150,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2026·05 | Battle in the Line | $120,000–$180,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·05 | Sketch for Painting | Mixed media on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2026·05 | First Impressions | Acrylic on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2026·05 | The Trick Shot | Acrylic on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2026·04 | An Ounce of Luck | $67,416–$94,383 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·04 | Destination Unknown | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·02 | Today a Waitress | $75,000–$100,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·02 | Ron Mix Football Portrait | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·02 | Dressing Room | $30,000–$50,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·02 | Improv Study | acrylic wash on paper | $20,000–$30,000 | upcoming | Christie's | |
| 2026·02 | Sketch for Boxing No. 2, circa 1984 | $6,000–$8,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·02 | Untitled, circa 1964 | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·01 | Country Ride | $80,000–$120,000 | Rago | |||
| 2025·11 | Southside Pool Hall | $200,000–$300,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·11 | In the Beginning | $300,000–$500,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·11 | Bluebird | Oil on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·11 | The Game Plan | $120,000–$180,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·11 | Untitled (Basketball) | $150,000–$200,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·11 | Singin’ Sistahs | $300,000–$500,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·11 | Destination Unknown | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·11 | Oh Happy Day 36 3/8 x 59 7/8 in. (92.2 x 152.1 cm.) | $120,000–$180,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·11 | 1-2 Finish | Oil on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·11 | Easy Shot | Oil on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·09 | Untitled (Layup) | $250,000–$350,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·09 | Blue Player vs. 2 Orange Football Players | $30,000–$50,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·09 | The Bassist | $2,000–$4,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·09 | Destination Unknown | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·07 | Portrait of the Frankovich Children 32 1/8 x 50 1/8 in. (81.6 x 127.3 cm.) | $20,000–$30,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·07 | Untitled | oil on canvas, in artist's frame | $40,000–$60,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2025·06 | Sketch for Boxing No. 2, circa 1984 | $10,000–$15,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·05 | Work Sketch for "Girlfriends" | Mixed media on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·05 | Lift Every Voice | $120,000–$180,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·05 | Sandlot Saints | Acrylic on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·05 | Hold the Pocket | Acrylic on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·05 | Anchor Leg | Acrylic on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·05 | Opening Ceremonies | Acrylic on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·05 | The Comedian | Acrylic on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·05 | Work Sketch for "Solitaire!" | Mixed media on Arches paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·05 | Untitled | oil on canvas | $200,000–$300,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2025·05 | Loose Ball | $200,000–$300,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·05 | Oh Happy Day | $300,000–$500,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·05 | Pool Player | $100,000–$150,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·03 | Destination Unknown | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·03 | An Ounce of Luck | $80,000–$120,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·02 | Dance Studio | $200,000–$300,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·12 | Destination Unknown | $1,500–$2,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·11 | Pail Hoops | oil on canvas | $500,000–$700,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2024·11 | An Ounce of Luck | $150,000–$200,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·11 | My First Dunk | $250,000–$350,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·11 | Pool Hall | $200,000–$300,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·11 | The Native Gift 36 x 18 in. (91.4 x 45.7 cm.) | $250,000–$350,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·11 | Bible Study 48 x 36 in. (121.9 x 91.4 cm.) | $80,000–$120,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·11 | Playin' the Net | Oil on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2024·08 | Destination Unknown | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·07 | Study for Jockey on Horse 23 29 x 22 7/8 in. (73.7 x 58.1 cm.) | $12,000–$18,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·05 | Destination Unknown | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·05 | We Keep the Sabbath Kosher | acrylic on canvas | $60,000–$80,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2024·05 | Human Celebration | $150,000–$250,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·03 | Hustler | acrylic on canvas | $40,450–$67,416 | Christie's | ||
| 2024·03 | Final Draft for Fastbreak | $50,000–$70,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·03 | The Leap, 1972 | $300,000–$500,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·12 | Matt Snell, New York Jets | oil on canvas | $50,000–$70,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2023·11 | Destination Unknown | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·11 | Grooms at Work | Oil and acrylic on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·11 | Country Layup 1979 | $350,000–$550,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·11 | Pool Hall Scene | $30,000–$40,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·11 | Untitled | $100,000–$150,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·11 | The Vanishing Breed | $350,000–$500,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·11 | Study Sketch for Tennis | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·11 | The Master Table | oil on canvas | $120,000–$180,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2023·11 | High Aspirations 36 x 18 in. (91.4 x 45.7 cm.) | $500,000–$700,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·10 | The Bassist | $1,500–$2,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·10 | Destination Unknown | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·09 | Club 55 | $800,000–$1,200,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·09 | The Bomb, from Ernie Barnes Presents A Portfolio of Football Art | Offset lithograph on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·09 | Evening Before the Show, 1971 | $100,000–$150,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·08 | Sketch for Song On One Note 30 x 22 3/4 in. (76.2 x 57.8 cm.) | $10,000–$15,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·08 | The Bassist | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·07 | In Remembrance | acrylic on canvas | $100,000–$150,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2023·05 | Bronco Locker Room | acrylic on canvas | $127,477–$254,955 | Christie's | ||
| 2023·05 | Pocket Passer 26 1/8 x 40 in. (66.4 x 101.6 cm.) | $40,000–$60,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·05 | Study of Woman Sitting on Bench with Cane 30 1/8 x 22 1/2 in. (76.5 x 57.2 cm.) | $20,000–$30,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·05 | The Shot 20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 61 cm.) | $300,000–$500,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·05 | Hustlers | $70,000–$100,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·05 | The Team, study | Acrylic on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·05 | Scrum | Acrylic on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·05 | Quintet | Acrylic on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·05 | The Winning Shot | acrylic on canvas | $80,000–$120,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2023·05 | At Last | oil on canvas, in artist's frame | $60,000–$80,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2023·05 | Destination Unknown | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·04 | Untitled (Boston Patriots), circa 1962 | $70,000–$100,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·03 | Four Ladies with Gold Hat | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·03 | The Dunk | $250,000–$350,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·03 | The Back Room | acrylic on canvas | $94,383–$134,833 | Christie's | ||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $39, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.