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 A dash in the estimate column can mean withheld rather than unpublished: the house publishes no hammer price, or its printed low is a starting bid rather than an appraisal.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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $39, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2023·02 | The Stroll | acrylic on canvas | $134,833–$202,249 | Christie's | ||
| 2023·02 | Study: Woman in Pink Walking, 1992 | $20,000–$30,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·02 | The Sideline, 1963 | $30,000–$50,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·01 | Sketch IV, Preliminary Drawing for 'Jake' circa 1972 | $25,000–$35,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·12 | A Moral Imperative | acrylic on canvas | $114,730–$191,216 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·11 | Cool Quarterback | acrylic on canvas | $152,973–$280,450 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·11 | Bank Shot, Corner Pocket | acrylic on canvas | $100,000–$150,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·11 | One-On-None | acrylic on canvas, in artist's frame | $60,000–$80,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·11 | The Tunesmith | $200,000–$300,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2022·11 | Bojangles 18 x 24 in. (45.7 x 61 cm.) | $120,000–$180,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·11 | Her Metier 24 x 18 in. (61 x 45.7 cm.) | $60,000–$80,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·11 | aka Punch from the heavens | $200,000–$300,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2022·11 | Pool Player | $60,000–$100,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·11 | City Ball 19861986 | $100,000–$150,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·11 | Window Wishing | $80,000–$120,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2022·11 | My Man | $150,000–$200,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2022·11 | Study Sketch for Dance Couple | $15,000–$20,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2022·11 | Slam Before the Storm | $300,000–$400,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2022·10 | In the Finals | oil on canvas | $94,383–$134,833 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·10 | The Gospel Truth 1985 | $808,997–$1,348,329 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·10 | Every Night, All Night | oil on canvas | $134,833–$202,249 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·10 | Study Sketch for Pool Hall | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2022·09 | Untitled (The Stare) | oil on canvas | $80,000–$120,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2022·09 | Stage 8 | $50,000–$70,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2022·09 | Games and Shines, circa 1970 | $100,000–$150,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·09 | Solid Rock Congregation1993 | $500,000–$700,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·08 | Study for Pause Café 29 7/8 x 22 1/4 in. (75.9 x 56.5 cm.) | $15,000–$25,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·07 | The Dream We Live With | acrylic on paper | $30,000–$50,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·07 | Juba Dis an Juba Dat | acrylic on canvas, in artist's frame | $100,000–$150,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·06 | Main Street Pool Hall | oil on canvas | $107,866–$161,799 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·06 | Life After Sundown | $191,216–$318,694 | Phillips | |||
| 2022·05 | The Maestro 20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 61 cm.) | $25,000–$35,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·05 | Listen Up! | acrylic on canvas | $101,982–$152,973 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·05 | Storm Dance | acrylic on canvas, in artist's frame | $100,000–$150,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·05 | The Sugar Shack | acrylic on canvas | $150,000–$200,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·05 | Pool Hall | Acrylic on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·05 | Study for Improv | Acrylic on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·05 | Study for Trumpet Player | Acrylic on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2021·12 | Set Shot | acrylic on canvas | $30,000–$50,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·12 | Country Ride | oil on canvas | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·11 | Hustler 36 x 24 in. (91.4 x 61 cm.) | $20,000–$30,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·11 | Rewrite | oil on canvas | $40,000–$60,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·11 | Ballroom Soul | oil on canvas | $80,000–$120,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·11 | Every Night, All Night | Oil on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2021·10 | Dancer | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·10 | Scrum | $30,000–$50,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·05 | Singer, c. 1976 | oil on canvas | $15,000–$25,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·05 | The Grape Vine, c. 1976 | oil on canvas | $20,000–$30,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2020·12 | two-on-two | $30,000–$50,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·09 | the shot | $30,000–$50,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·08 | Football Players 32 x 36in framed 36 x 40in | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·11 | Window Wishing | Oil on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2015·11 | Football Players | Oil on board | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2014·05 | From Here on Up | Watercolor and pencil on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2014·05 | Merde (Actor in His Dressing Room) | Oil on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2014·05 | Woman Ironing | Oil on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2014·05 | Trumpet Solo | Oil on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2013·11 | In the finals, 1971 24 x 48in | $10,000–$15,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2012·11 | Sidewalk Scene with Graduate | Oil on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2012·06 | Untitled 36 x 18in | $10,000–$15,000 | Bonhams | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $39, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.