American, 1937–2021
William T. Wiley
244results on record
76%sell-through
$1,434median result (USD, incl. premium; 82% observed, 18% estimated from hammer)
$34,375 est.record in our coverage
Drawn from 244 recorded results (191 sold · 53 passed) across 10 auction houses, 1999–2026. What we cover
Median sold price by year typical estimate range median result USD, incl. premium; 82% observed, 18% 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| prints | 89 | 75% | $625 |
| works on paper | 26 | 73% | $2,875 |
| painting | 15 | 83% | $5,125 |
| other | 4 | 67% | $1,792 |
Medium is recorded for 134 of 244 results (55%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.
Compared with Sam Francis William T. Wiley Sam Francis
| Metric | William T. Wiley | Sam Francis |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $1,434 | $13,120 |
| Record price | $34,375 est. | $11,842,000 |
| Results on record | 244 | 3,530 |
| Years active at auction | 1999–2026 | 1998–2026 |
Related artists: Sam FrancisAlexander CalderRobert RauschenbergAndy Warhol
Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method
72/ 100
- Sell-through76%
- Meets estimate53%
- Market depth244 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Auctions | 69 | 74% | $875 | — |
| Bonhams | 66 | 73% | $3,667 | 0.94× |
| Freeman's | Hindman | 44 | 77% | $844 | 0.63× |
| Rago | 24 | 92% | $682 | — |
| Christie's | 20 | 100% | $2,500 | — |
| Sotheby's | 10 | 100% | $2,133 | 0.92× |
| Wright | 6 | 67% | $1,518 | — |
| Phillips | 3 | 33% | $1,208 | — |
| Locati LLC | 1 | 100% | $188 | 0.33× |
| Kruso Art | 1 | 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 244 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 53 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 | ||||||
| 2022·10 | Tabletop with Meridian Moons | Archival pigment print on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·10 | Unkl Skam , 1988 | color lithograph | $600–$800 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2022·09 | I Hope You Learned Your Lesson | $800–$1,200 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·09 | I Hope You Learned Your Lessen | 11 Iris prints with handwritten poems on wove paper and double-sided drawing on slate | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·09 | So Punch Greets | Oil, pencil, and tape on shoebox | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·09 | Recovering Dunce | Pastel, marker, tape, and wire assemblage on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·09 | Tower Sight - Site | Watercolor and pencil on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·07 | Tabletop with Meridian Moons | Archival pigment print on canvas | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·06 | Snakeskin Doubt | $3,000–$5,000 | Rago | |||
| 2022·06 | Here They Come Again | Mixed media on board | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·05 | Eerie Grotto? Okini | Woodcut in colors on Japanese paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·05 | Field Stone, Feels Tone, Feel Stoned (complete group of three prints) , 1972 | lithograph | $1,000–$2,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2022·05 | Dunce Rubbing , 1981 | mixed media on paper | $3,000–$5,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2022·04 | I Hope You Learned Your Lessen | 11 Iris prints with handwritten poems on wove paper and double-sided drawing on slate | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·04 | Winter Banter, 1981 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·04 | Recovering Dunce, 2002 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·04 | Untitled (rehabilitating the savages), 2006 | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·04 | Doodle Drum, 1972 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·03 | Tabletop with Meridian Moons, 1897 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·03 | The Tower | Watercolor and ink on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·03 | So Neptune Is That You??? | Acrylic, graphite, charcoal, and masking tape on cardboard box | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2022·03 | Unkl Skam , 1988 | color lithograph | $600–$800 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2022·03 | Mr. Unnatural At Your Surface , 1976 | color lithograph | $800–$1,200 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2022·03 | Learning How to Beehive , 1996 | color lithograph | $500–$700 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2022·03 | Three Mile Island, Three Years Later , 1982 | color lithograph | $800–$1,200 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2022·01 | Visit the Snake Pit Alive | $1,500–$2,000 | Wright | |||
| 2021·12 | Waiting in the Wings | $1,200–$1,800 | Rago | |||
| 2021·12 | I Hope You Learned Your Lesson | Etching in colors on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2021·12 | T. E. O. T. O , 1984 | acrylic and charcoal on canvas mounted to board | $5,000–$7,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·11 | Ol' Unkl Scam | Lithograph in colors on wove paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2021·11 | Senior Eater | Lithograph in colors on wove paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2021·10 | Leviathan Belongs to the Ocean | $3,000–$5,000 | Rago | |||
| 2021·10 | Visit the Snake Pit Alive | $2,000–$3,000 | Wright | |||
| 2021·09 | Rhoom for Error #31 , 1983 | monoprint with soft ground etching | $2,000–$4,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·09 | Monoprint (Self Portrait in a Dunce Cap/Mr. Unnatural) , 1976 | monoprint | $2,000–$4,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·09 | Now Here's that Blame Treaty , 1983 | aquatint with soft ground etching and burnishing | $2,000–$4,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·09 | Erie Cafe , 1976 | lithograph | $1,500–$2,500 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·09 | The Gates of ED for HB | $8,000–$12,000 | Rago | |||
| 2021·09 | O.T.P.A.G. Fishing , 1978 | soft ground etching | $1,000–$2,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·09 | Line Fever , 1978 | soft ground etching | $1,000–$2,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·09 | Spooky on the Line , 1979 | lithograph | $1,500–$2,500 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·09 | Thank You Chicago (Hide) , 1972 | lithograph | $1,000–$2,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·09 | Mar - Vista - Mar , 1993 | pastel and pencil on paper | $2,000–$4,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·09 | All Saints Ball , 1977 | acrylic and charcoal on canvas | $15,000–$25,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·09 | The Hearings, 2007 | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·09 | November Deadline, 1967 | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·09 | This Angel's Wings (Beggars Joys Part II), 1994 | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·09 | Stark Lusters Last Stand in Blind Consideration, 1972 | $7,000–$10,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·09 | Tension on the Cable, 1972 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·09 | Cross Country Out House, 1971 | $6,000–$8,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·09 | What Audrey Thought She Saw...What Audrey Saw She Thought, 2011 | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·07 | Band Together (from the Landfall Press 30th Anniversary portfolio) | $600–$800 | Rago | |||
| 2021·05 | Band Together | $500–$700 | Rago | |||
| 2021·05 | Shoed Anvil or is it Shod | $700–$900 | Rago | |||
| 2021·05 | Dunce | Mixed media sculpture on wood base | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2021·05 | Spooky on the Line , 1979 | lithograph | $1,500–$2,500 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·05 | Monument for Union Oil and Pacific Wild Life , 1969 | watercolor and felt-tip marker on paper | $3,000–$5,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·05 | Scrap's Proposal Heaped , 1968 | watercolor and felt-tip marker on paper | $3,000–$5,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·03 | Moon Mullings; and Wash Doubt | $1,000–$1,500 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·02 | band together (from the landfall press 30th anniversary portfolio) | $242–$363 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·02 | Beginning Passes Lonely Sunday; Down the Line with Ol' Sir Rot (two works from Suite of Daze) | $1,000–$1,500 | Rago | |||
| 2021·02 | Green Shoes , 1977 | etching and aquatint | $500–$700 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2021·02 | Thank you Chicago (Hide) , 1972 | lithograph | $600–$800 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2020·12 | Curly Use to Figure | $1,000–$2,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·12 | Eerie Grotto? Okini | Woodcut in colors on Japanese paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2020·12 | Mr. Unpopular , 1980 | color lithograph | $700–$900 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2020·10 | The Naked Anvil | 14 archival digital prints in colors on wove paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2020·10 | Ugly Hide's Ideas | acrylic, charcoal and ink on canvas | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2020·10 | "Untitled" (Mr. Nobody) , 1975 | lithograph | $600–$800 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2020·09 | Who Waves - The Flag, 1985 | $15,000–$20,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·06 | Little More Than an Idea , 1998 | lithograph and woodcut | $400–$600 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2020·05 | Big Chrismus Tough, 1984 | $1,000–$2,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·05 | Glass Cull, 1995-1996 | $1,500–$2,500 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·05 | Ediface Complex, 1981 | $12,000–$18,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·05 | Dream Water, 1987 | $15,000–$20,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·05 | What's Not Self No.1 (Cute Rules), 1983 | $2,000–$4,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·05 | Baseball Diamond and Village Green No. 2, 1984 | $800–$1,200 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·05 | Sky Hide, 1976 | $800–$1,200 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·05 | The Dark Package, 1987 | $800–$1,200 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·05 | Seasonal Gate , 1975 | etching and lithograph | $500–$700 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2020·05 | Eerie Grotto? Okini | $1,000–$1,200 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·02 | Thickening Heir | $1,000–$1,500 | Rago | |||
| 2020·02 | Down the Line with Ol; Sir Rot from A Suite of Daze and Mr. Unnatural (State I) (two works) | $1,200–$1,800 | Rago | |||
| 2020·02 | November Deadline | $2,500–$3,500 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·10 | william wiley | fence | $7,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2019·05 | For Judy Bari, 2000 | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2019·05 | The Naked Anvil | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·12 | Your Pal Rim | Etching on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·11 | Only the Brave Sea... in a close Brush with Death | Watercolor and lithograph on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·10 | Eye Am My Neck, circa 1977 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·10 | The Naked Anvil 14 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·07 | Reflections on Egypt | $5,000–$7,000 | Wright | |||
| 2018·05 | Blue Stump, 1978 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2017·12 | I Ran Amuck No. 1 | graphite and crayon on paper | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·04 | & So.. A Recent Picasso, 2003 37 1/2 x 28 3/4 in. (95.3 x 73 cm) unframed | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2017·04 | It's Only a Pay Per Moon | $1,500–$2,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2016·11 | Soundoor, 1989; From Light to Dark, 1987 (2) first 10 1/4 x 7 1/8 in. (26 x 18.1 cm); second 7 1/8 x 10 1/4 in. (18.1 x 26 cm) | $1,000–$2,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2016·05 | Phoney Van Gogh with Bar Code, 1997 26 5/8 x 34 5/8 in. (67.6 x 87.9 cm) | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2016·05 | No Dumping (your files will have the proper name), 1978 26 x 35 3/4 in. (66 x 91 cm) | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2016·05 | Grand Illusion, 1964 16 5/8 x 16 7/8 in. (42.2 x 42.9 cm) | $2,000–$4,000 | Bonhams | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.