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James Lee Byars #1,493

description Report
personAmerican, 1932–1997
palette

Selected Works238

Museum Acquisitions

Whitney
Whitney
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
NGA Washington
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Previous Sales 35

Sotheby's
Untitled
Untitled, 1959
$4,846
Jun 2024
Sotheby's
Untitled
Untitled, 1985
€2,000 ($3k USD)
Apr 2022
Sotheby's
Untitled
Untitled
€900 ($1k USD)
Feb 2021
Christie's
Untitled
Untitled
$12,500
Nov 2014
Christie's
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait, 1994
$93,750
May 2014
Christie's
Red Circle
Red Circle
$17,500
Sep 2007
Christie's
Bird
Bird
$4,541
Nov 2003
SBI Art Auction
The 5 Continent Documenta 7
The 5 Continent Documenta 7, 1985
¥460,000 ($4k USD)
Nov 2016
SBI Art Auction
The 5 Continent Documenta 7
The 5 Continent Documenta 7, 1988
¥575,000 ($5k USD)
Oct 2015
Los Angeles Modern Auctions
Four in a Dress proposal
Four in a Dress proposal
$11,250
Mar 2015
Wright
PIITL (Perfect is in the Louvre)
PIITL (Perfect is in the Louvre)
$5,000
Jan 1970
Sotheby's
The Golden Bullet
The Golden Bullet, 1986
$37,718
Jan 2026
Phillips
Compositie
Compositie, 1987
$8,190
May 2022
Sotheby's
The Monument to Cleopatra
The Monument to Cleopatra, 1988
Bought In
Oct 2021
Artcurial
Slit Moon
Slit Moon, 1994
$41,956
Jun 2025
Dorotheum
Untitled (Dear Senior Paparoni)
Untitled (Dear Senior Paparoni)
$2,798
Mar 2024
Dorotheum
TSOTF (The Sacrifice Of The Flower)
TSOTF (The Sacrifice Of The Flower), 1986
$3,498
Nov 2023
Heritage Auctions · Artsy
247D
247D, 1996
Bidding closed
Gold pencil on red paper
Gerrish Fine Art · Artsy
Black Dress
Black Dress, 1968
No longer available
Multiple
Rago/Wright/LAMA/Toomey & Co. · Artsy
Untitled
Untitled, 1975
Bidding closed
Painted paper, silk, thread
Galerie Hus · Artsy
Sans titre
Sans titre, 1990
No longer available
Paper, encre
Rago/Wright/LAMA/Toomey & Co. · Artsy
letter mailed to Tommy Longo
letter mailed to Tommy Longo, 1975
Bidding closed
Handwritten text on black tissue paper, handwritten text on black envelope
Alternate Projects · Artsy
Untitled (Letter to Mr. And Mrs. Butler)
Untitled (Letter to Mr. And Mrs. Butler), 1980
No longer available
Handwritten text in pencil on pleated circular ring made of thin red paper, with accompanying hand addressed & postmarked envelope.
Rago/Wright/LAMA/Toomey & Co. · Artsy
letter mailed to Tommy Longo
letter mailed to Tommy Longo, 1974
Bidding closed
Handwritten text on black tissue paper dog bone, handwritten text on white envelope
Galerie Dina Vierny · Artsy
The Spinning oracle at Delphi ?
The Spinning oracle at Delphi ?, 1985
No longer available
Pink paper cutouts

For Sale 1

RoGallery · 1stDibs
Description of Torino Exhibit (Castello di Rivoli)
Description of Torino Exhibit (Castello di Rivoli)
$80,000
Marker on Foil Paper
price_check

Market224 auction results

trending_upWorks on paper Range
$1.2K – $17.5K
13 of 13 works on paper lots with prices
calculateWorks on paper Average
$6.5K
Object-type specific
show_chartWorks on paper Median
$3.5K
13 priced works on paper lots
calendar_todayLast Works on paper Sale
Jun 2024 · $4.8K
Latest tracked sale in this object type
categoryMarket by Object Type
Works on paper: $3.5K medianSculpture/objects: $42.0K medianPaintings: $93.8K medianBooks/portfolios: $59.4K medianEditioned prints: $4.4K medianPosters/ephemera: $1.7K medianUnclassified lots: $20.3K median
gavelTop Auction Houses
PhillipsSotheby'sCornette de Saint CyrChristie'sPhillips de Pury & Company
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Publications2

Monograph 1

James Lee Byars: Briefe an Joseph Beuys
Hatje Cantz · 2000

Exhibition Catalog 1

James Lee Byars Author
Hatje Cantz · 2020
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Current Exhibitions0

No current exhibitions found.

newspaper

Recent News9

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BAMPFA Exhibition Showcases Fifty Years of Pathbreaking Contemporary Art in MATRIX Anniversary Survey
The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) has announced a major survey exhibition titled 'MATRIX: 50 Years of Experimentation,' schedu…
exhibitionsJun 2, 2026
CARTIER FOUNDATION. A THIN LINE BETWEEN EXTRACTIVISM AND CULTURAL RECLAMATION
The Cartier Foundation inaugurated its new Paris headquarters on October 25 with the exhibition "Exposition Générale." The curatorial approach and, mo…
exhibitionsMar 29, 2026
7 museum openings of 2025
The global art landscape is set for a significant transformation in 2025 with the opening of several high-profile museum projects. These range from th…
exhibitionsMar 18, 2026
art gordon veneklasen sigmar polke
Art dealer Gordon VeneKlasen, former longtime partner of Michael Werner, launched his own gallery at the start of 2025. The new VeneKlasen Gallery mad…
peopleMar 3, 2026
michael werner gordon veneklasen end gallery partnership
Michael Werner and Gordon VeneKlasen, partners at Michael Werner Gallery for 35 years, are dissolving their partnership at the start of next year. Wer…
marketDec 1, 2025
Introducing CULTURED’s Inaugural Young Dealers List
CULTURED magazine has launched its inaugural Young Dealers List, highlighting 23 galleries under five years old that are reshaping the art world. Sele…
peopleJun 12, 2025
cultured young dealers list art gallerists
Cultured magazine has published its first Young Dealers List, highlighting 23 galleries under five years old that are revitalizing the art world. The …
peopleJun 12, 2025
top 10 german art collectors
Artnet News has published a list of the top 10 German art collectors, coinciding with the opening of Art Cologne 2015. The list includes notable figur…
marketJun 11, 2025
14 best galleries in NYC to visit
This article lists 14 of the best art galleries to visit in New York City, highlighting major commercial spaces such as Hauser & Wirth, Gagosian Galle…
localApr 18, 2025
history

Past Exhibitions22

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HangarBicocca

James Lee Byars

James Lee Byars

Oct 12, 2023 — Feb 18, 2024

James Lee Byars — 12.10.2023 – 18.02.2024

Details

#117 Michael Werner

James Lee Byars: The Chair for the Philosophy of Question

James Lee Byars

4 Newtown Lane

Apr 7, 2022 — May 31, 2022

Details

#117 Michael Werner

The Milky Way and The Star Man

James Lee Byars

22 Upper Brook St, London W1K 7PZ, UK

May 21, 2021 — Aug 19, 2021

Details

#117 Michael Werner

James Lee Byars: The Milky Way

James Lee Byars

4 E 77th St # 2, New York, NY 10075, USA

Mar 5, 2021 — May 1, 2021

Details

#117 Michael Werner

James Lee Byars Works 1974-1994

4 E 77th St # 2, New York, NY 10075, USA

Jun 27, 2019 — Sep 14, 2019

Details

#117 Michael Werner

James Lee Byars The American Flag

James Lee Byars

4 E 77th St # 2, New York, NY 10075, USA

May 17, 2017 — Aug 15, 2017

Details

#117 Michael Werner

JAMES LEE BYARS The Golden Tower

James Lee Byars

45 N Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291, USA

May 13, 2017 — Aug 11, 2017

Details

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art

Col·lecció MACBA. Sota la superfície

Ignasi Aballí, Pep Agut, Art & Language, Karla Black, James Lee Byars, Jordi Colomer, Ángela de la Cruz, Jean Dubuffet, Latifa Echakhch, Lucio Fontana, Dora García, Felix Gonzalez-Torres

Plaça dels Àngels, 1, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona, Spain

Jan 1, 2017

Col·lecció MACBA. Sota la superfície Horari: 11 Oct. 2017 - Nov. 2018 Espai: Afegeix al Recorregut Cal iniciar sessió o registrar-se per afegir a Recorreguts...

Details

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art

MACBA Collection. Beneath the Surface

Ignasi Aballí, Pep Agut, Art & Language, Karla Black, James Lee Byars, Jordi Colomer, Ángela de la Cruz, Jean Dubuffet, Latifa Echakhch, Lucio Fontana, Dora García, Felix Gonzalez-Torres

Plaça dels Àngels, 1, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona, Spain

Jan 1, 2017

MACBA Collection. Beneath the Surface Horari: 11 Oct. 2017 - Nov. 2018 Espai: Add to Itinerary In order to add to Itinerary, you have to log in or sign up Co...

Details

#23 Mendes Wood DM

James Lee Byars

James Lee Byars

Rua Iramaia 105

May 28, 2016 — Aug 6, 2016

Details

#117 Michael Werner

JAMES LEE BYARS The Figure of Death and The Moon Column

James Lee Byars

4 E 77th St # 2, New York, NY 10075, USA

Jul 2, 2015 — Sep 3, 2015

Details

#117 Michael Werner

James Lee Byars: The Diamond Floor

James Lee Byars

22 Upper Brook St, London W1K 7PZ, UK

Jun 23, 2015 — Sep 21, 2015

Details

#117 Michael Werner

JAMES LEE BYARS Is Is and Other Works

James Lee Byars

4 E 77th St # 2, New York, NY 10075, USA

Jun 12, 2014 — Aug 29, 2014

Details

#117 Michael Werner

James Lee Byars Early Works and The Angel

James Lee Byars

22 Upper Brook St, London W1K 7PZ, UK

Jan 17, 2013 — Mar 16, 2013

Details

#117 Michael Werner

JAMES LEE BYARS The Monument to Cleopatra

James Lee Byars

4 E 77th St # 2, New York, NY 10075, USA

Jul 12, 2012 — Aug 31, 2012

Details

#117 Michael Werner

Golddust is My Ex-Libris

JAMES LEE BYARS

4 E 77th St # 2, New York, NY 10075, USA

Jul 6, 2009 — Sep 4, 2009

Details

#2,406 MK Gallery

James Lee Byars

James Lee Byars

900 Midsummer Blvd

Apr 4, 2009 — Jun 21, 2009

Details

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA)

James Lee Byars: The Perfect Audience

James Lee Byars

2155 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA

Jan 1, 2008

James Lee Byars: The Perfect Audience February 13–August 3, 2008 The art of James Lee Byars could be as grand as a global gesture or as intimate and fleeting...

Details

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

James Lee Byars: The Perfect Audience

James Lee Byars

Jan 1, 2008

James Lee Byars: The Perfect Audience February 13–August 3, 2008 The art of James Lee Byars could be as grand as a global gesture or as intimate and fleeting...

Details

Timothy Taylor

James Lee Byars The Angel

James Lee Byars

15 Bolton St, London W1J 8BG, United Kingdom

Mar 20, 2002 — Apr 26, 2002

Details

#156 Rhona Hoffman Gallery

James Lee Byars Works on paper from the 1960s and 1990s Sculpture from the 1990s

James Lee Byars

Oct 5, 2001 — Nov 3, 2001

Details

Museo Reina Sofía

James Lee Byars Perfect Is the Question

James Lee Byars

C. de Sta. Isabel, 52, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Jan 1, 2024

James Lee Byars — 10 May – 1 September 2024

Details
stadium

Art Fair Appearances1

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Art Basel Hong Kong — Hong Kong
2016
timeline

Recent Activity20

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Exhibition
James Lee Byars Perfect Is the Question
newspaper
News
FUNDACIÓN CARTIER. UNA DELGADA LÍNEA ENTRE EXTRACTIVISMO Y REIVINDICACIÓN CULTURAL
Mar 29, 2026
newspaper
News
7 museum openings of 2025
Mar 18, 2026
newspaper
News
art gordon veneklasen sigmar polke
Mar 3, 2026
newspaper
News
michael werner gordon veneklasen end gallery partnership
Dec 1, 2025
newspaper
News
Introducing CULTURED’s Inaugural Young Dealers List
Jun 12, 2025
newspaper
News
cultured young dealers list art gallerists
Jun 12, 2025
newspaper
News
top 10 german art collectors
Jun 11, 2025
newspaper
News
14 best galleries in NYC to visit
Apr 18, 2025
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
James Lee Byars
Oct 12, 2023
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
James Lee Byars: The Chair for the Philosophy of Question
Apr 7, 2022
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
The Milky Way and The Star Man
May 21, 2021
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
James Lee Byars: The Milky Way
Mar 5, 2021
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
James Lee Byars Works 1974-1994
Jun 27, 2019
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
Works 1974-1994
Jun 1, 2019
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
The American Flag
May 17, 2017
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
James Lee Byars The American Flag
May 17, 2017
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
JAMES LEE BYARS The Golden Tower
May 13, 2017
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
Col·lecció MACBA. Sota la superfície
Jan 1, 2017
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
MACBA Collection. Beneath the Surface
Jan 1, 2017
newspaper

Related News5

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