American, 1912–1962
Morris Louis
120results on record
82%sell-through
$721,000median result (USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer)
$5,712,500record in our coverage
Drawn from 120 recorded results (113 sold · 7 passed) across 7 auction houses, 1998–2026. 1 upcoming lot 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| painting | 53 | 82% | $716,229 |
Medium is recorded for 53 of 120 results (44%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.
Compared with Andy Warhol Morris Louis Andy Warhol
| Metric | Morris Louis | Andy Warhol |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $721,000 | $32,500 |
| Record price | $5,712,500 | $195,040,000 |
| Results on record | 120 | 15,103 |
| Years active at auction | 1998–2026 | 1998–2026 |
Related artists: Andy WarholAlexander CalderRoy LichtensteinWillem De Kooning
Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method
81/ 100
- Sell-through82%
- Meets estimate71%
- Market depth120 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sotheby's | 57 | 95% | $722,500 | 0.98× |
| Christie's | 51 | 80% | $721,000 | — |
| Phillips | 6 | 67% | $1,404,750 | — |
| Ketterer Kunst | 2 | — | $1,006,830 | — |
| Rago | 1 | 100% | $3,302 | — |
| Wright | 3 | 33% | $60 | — |
| Heritage Auctions | 1 | 100% | $310,000 | — |
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 122 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 7 passed lots
| Date | Lot | Medium | vs. estimate | Estimate USD | Result USD, incl. premium | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2026·06 | Dalet Chet, 1958 | Acrylic (Magna) on canvas Estimate: € 400,000 / $ 456,000 Sold: € 619,200 / $ 705,887 (incl | $462,680–$462,680 | Ketterer Kunst | ||
| 2026·05 | Gamma | $1,200,000–$1,800,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2026·05 | Beth Kaf | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2026·05 | Ambi IV | $4,000,000–$6,000,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·11 | Polaris | $1,200,000–$1,800,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·11 | Number 2-10 | Magna on canvas | $700,000–$1,000,000 | upcoming | Christie's | |
| 2025·11 | Dalet Mem | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·06 | Untitled (D409) | $2,000–$3,000 | Rago | |||
| 2025·06 | Addition VII, 1959 | Acrylic on canvas | $912,880–$912,880 | Ketterer Kunst | ||
| 2025·05 | Approach | $800,000–$1,200,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·05 | Slow Place | $350,000–$550,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·05 | Plenitude | Magna on canvas | $800,000–$1,200,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2025·05 | Gamma Upsilon | Magna on canvas | $2,000,000–$3,000,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2024·11 | Pillar of Celebration | Magna on canvas | $1,200,000–$1,800,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2024·05 | Split Spectrum | $1,200,000–$1,800,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·11 | Number 14 | $300,000–$500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·05 | Surge | Magna on canvas | $2,000,000–$3,000,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2023·05 | Beta Beta | Magna on canvas | $2,000,000–$3,000,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2023·05 | Number 2-67 | Magna on canvas | $1,800,000–$2,500,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·11 | Number 1-44 | Magna on canvas | $350,000–$550,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·11 | Beth Lamed | Magna on canvas | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·11 | Untitled | Magna on canvas | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·11 | Number 4-31 | $2,500,000–$3,500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2022·11 | Floral V | Magna on canvas | $3,000,000–$5,000,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·11 | Notes of Recession | $400,000–$600,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2022·06 | Dalet Kuf | $1,500,000–$2,000,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·05 | Moving In | $1,800,000–$2,500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·12 | Infield | $900,000–$1,200,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2020·12 | Beth Sin | $4,000,000–$6,000,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2020·12 | Number 20 | Magna on canvas | $600,000–$800,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2020·02 | sidle | $517,095–$775,642 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2019·11 | number 38 | $2,000,000–$3,000,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2019·11 | lambda ii | $1,500,000–$2,000,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2019·11 | Singing | $1,500,000–$2,000,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·11 | Alpha Beta | Magna on canvas | $800,000–$1,200,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·11 | Number 1-60 | Magna on canvas | $300,000–$500,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·06 | number 21 | $380,411–$507,215 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2019·05 | number 1-78 | $400,000–$600,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·11 | Delta Omicron | Magna on canvas | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·11 | Para IV | Magna on canvas | $3,000,000–$5,000,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·05 | Roseate | Magna on canvas | $500,000–$700,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·05 | Devolving | Magna on canvas | $5,000,000–$7,000,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·05 | Number 4-32 | Magna on canvas | $2,000,000–$3,000,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·11 | Gamma Epsilon | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | Gothic | acrylic on canvas | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·05 | Number 3-10 | $180,000–$250,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·04 | Cyclops | magna on canvas | $19,089–$26,512 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·11 | Gamma Epsilon | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·11 | Dalet Sin | $600,000–$800,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·11 | Prime | acrylic on canvas | $250,000–$350,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·11 | Tzadik | $1,500,000–$2,500,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·11 | Blue Pilaster II | Acrylic resin (Magna) on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2016·05 | Number 1-73 | acrylic on canvas | $250,000–$350,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·05 | Silver II | acrylic and aluminum paint on canvas | $180,000–$250,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2015·11 | Alcor | magna on canvas | $700,000–$1,000,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2015·11 | Para IV | $2,000,000–$3,000,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2015·06 | Number 36 | acrylic on canvas | $786,407–$1,100,970 | Christie's | ||
| 2014·11 | Lambda II | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2014·11 | Delta Ro | $800,000–$1,200,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2014·10 | Roseate | — | Unsold listing | Sotheby's | ||
| 2014·05 | Ascending | $350,000–$550,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2014·05 | Number 49 | $250,000–$350,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2014·05 | Alpha Iota | $800,000–$1,200,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2014·05 | Number 10 | magna on canvas | $700,000–$1,000,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2013·11 | Gamma Kappa | $900,000–$1,200,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2013·11 | number 6 | $400,000–$600,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2013·05 | Roseate | $300,000–$500,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2013·05 | Airborn | $800,000–$1,200,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2012·05 | Omega I | $500,000–$700,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2012·05 | Number 32 | $500,000–$700,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2011·11 | Omega I | $750,000–$950,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2010·05 | Alpha Upsilon | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·11 | Number 1-36 | magna on canvas | $200,000–$300,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2009·11 | Number 1-61 | acrylic on canvas | $180,000–$220,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2009·05 | Number 2-07 | $500,000–$700,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·03 | Untitled | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·11 | Landscape (Mid-day) | magna on canvas | $40,000–$60,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·11 | Number 32 | $600,000–$800,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·11 | Number 49 | $300,000–$400,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·11 | Untitled | magna on canvas | $2,000,000–$3,000,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·05 | Sea Gamut | acrylic on canvas | $250,000–$350,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·05 | gamma kappa | $700,000–$900,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·05 | Number 6 | magna on canvas | $400,000–$600,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2007·11 | Green Picket | $300,000–$400,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·11 | Saf Beth | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·11 | Gamma Tau | $1,000,000–$1,500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·11 | Number 1-36 | $300,000–$500,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·05 | Number 42 | magna on canvas | $150,000–$200,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2007·05 | Gemma | $300,000–$400,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·05 | While Series II | magna on canvas | $800,000–$1,200,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2007·05 | beta delta | $500,000–$700,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·11 | Roseate | acrylic on canvas | $300,000–$400,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·11 | No. 1-37 | acrylic on canvas | $150,000–$200,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·11 | number 82 | $400,000–$600,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·11 | Bellatrix | acrylic and magna on canvas | $700,000–$900,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·11 | Horizontal VIII | $350,000–$450,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·10 | Monographs | $75–$100 | Wright | |||
| 2006·10 | Monograph | $200–$300 | Wright | |||
| 2006·10 | Bird | oil on canvas | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·05 | Spawn | $180,000–$250,000 | Sotheby's | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.