A Seller’s Guide to David Wojnarowicz

Wojnarowicz's artistic vision was shaped by his experiences as a gay man living through the AIDS crisis, his tumultuous childhood, and his observations of American consumer culture. He drew inspiration from diverse sources, including William S. Burroughs' literary works, French poet Arthur Rimbaud, and the stark realities of life on the margins of society. Wojnarowicz's prints often incorporate imagery from his paintings and photographs, creating a rich visual language that speaks to themes of desire, isolation, and resistance. His work has been collected by major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

The market for David Wojnarowicz's prints has seen substantial growth, particularly since his posthumous recognition as a significant voice in late 20th century American art. Prices can vary widely based on factors such as rarity, condition, and the specific series to which a print belongs. The artist’s most sought-after prints tend to be those with the most political and societal charge. A collection of 10 prints of One Day This Kid (1990-2018), which details the normalised experience of gay men in America at its time of creation, sold for a record price of £29,159 at auction in Berlin in 2021. The highest price achieved by an individual Wojnarowicz print was £22,778, achieved by Untitled (c.1982) in 2023 - this could, in part be due to its obvious relevance within a Post War Art context, as well as the pinholes and tearing around the edges that are very distinctive of Wojnarowicz’s method of working. A collection of Earth & Wind (1991) and Fire & Water (1991) sold for £20,087, over double their high estimate, in 2021.

Some of Wojnarowicz's most sought-after print series include the Rimbaud in New York (1978-79) photographs, where the French poet’s face is worn as a mask by the original subjects. Individual prints from this series typically fetch between £5,000 and £30,000.

Later prints and posthumous editions, such as those from his Sex Series (1988-89), generally range from £3,000 to £20,000, depending on size and edition. This series in particular is popular because the prints nearly never existed - the original prints were montaged in a dark room, meaning no negatives existed to make additional prints from. Wojnarowicz worked with Schneider and Erdman to photograph the prints and make an edition available.

Other popular prints include Untitled (Buffalo) (1988-89), of which hand-coloured versions exist, and When I Put My Hands On Your Body (1990), the final print edition by Schneider and Erdman before Wojnarowicz died in 1992.

Wojnarowicz's market has shown steady growth over the past decade, with particular spikes following major retrospectives or increased cultural focus on LGBTQ+ artists. For example, following the Whitney Museum's comprehensive retrospective David Wojnarowicz: History Keeps Me Awake at Night in 2018, there were several high-value auction sales for his prints and multiples.

Authenticating a Wojnarowicz print involves a balance of establishing provenance, assessing the materials used in the piece, and consulting verified records of his work. As Wojnarowicz often used unconventional printing methods (such as Xerox prints that are particularly sensitive to light), and sometimes added elements such as hand-colouring or additional collage, assessing the legitimacy of any prints can be challenging. For this reason, it is advisable to consult with recognised Wojnarowicz scholars or reputable auction houses or brokers specialising in his work. The artist’s estate, represented by PPOW Gallery in New York, can also provide valuable assistance.

Catalogue Raisonné

The definitive catalogue raisonné for David Wojnarowicz is an ongoing project (titled “One Day This Kid”), currently being compiled by PPOW Gallery in collaboration with the Estate of David Wojnarowicz. This comprehensive catalogue aims to document all of Wojnarowicz's known works, including his prints and multiples. Until its completion, collectors and researchers rely on several key resources. Brush Fires in the Social Landscape, a posthumous collection of Wojnarowicz's work published in 1994 and expanded in 2015, provides extensive documentation of his photographic works. Another valuable printed resource is the catalogue that accompanied the David Wojnarowicz: History Keeps Me Awake at Night exhibition at the Whitney Museum.

Edition and Signature

David Wojnarowicz's approach to editioning and signing his prints was often as unconventional as his artistic practice. Typically, his signature appears in pencil on the lower right of the print, characterised by its distinctive, sometimes hurried appearance. Edition numbers, when present, are usually found on the lower left, though this can vary. Wojnarowicz's print editions were often small, ranging from 10 to 50, with some series produced in larger numbers posthumously.

Some of Wojnarowicz's works were printed or reproduced after his death in 1992, with the approval of his estate. These posthumous editions are typically clearly marked as such. In the case of photographic works, vintage prints made during Wojnarowicz's lifetime are particularly valued.

Browse David Wojnarowicz prints on the Trading Floor and find out more about the print market growth on the MAB100 Print Index.

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Selling your print at the right time can make a vast difference to the final sale price. Consider factors such as market trends, relevant exhibitions, and significant anniversaries for Wojnarowicz. Periods of heightened interest in politically engaged and LGBTQ+ artists could have an impact on the demand for Wojnarowicz’s work. Retrospectives and major exhibitions also spark renewed interest; for example, David Wojnarowicz: History Keeps Me Awake At Night, held at the Whitney Museum in New York in 2018 was followed by a year of high-value print sales.

As an artist known for his cultural commentary and artistic protests, cultural and political events that resonate with Wojnarowicz's themes may also influence market interest. Pride Month celebrations or significant anniversaries related to the AIDS crisis might create opportune moments for discussion of Wojnarowicz’s work amongst collectors - and, therefore, sales.

It’s important to keep track of Wojnarowicz’s print sales at auction, as this can be the biggest indicator of collector interest, regardless of exhibitions or anniversaries. Monitoring sales results and value trajectory reports for similar Wojnarowicz prints can provide insights into current market trends and help you set realistic expectations for your sale.

MyArtBroker offers advanced art tech tools to help you determine the optimal time to sell. Our MyPortfolio service features an AI-powered value indicator that provides real-time valuations of individual prints based on both public and private sales data. Combined with our complimentary valuations, we can help ensure your print achieves maximum value by selling at the perfect moment.

At MyArtBroker, our specialists provide a free market valuation for your artwork, offering a level of transparency unmatched in today’s market. In addition to our valuations, through our online Trading Floor, you can access real-time insights into works by the artist you’re looking to sell, including pieces that are most in demand, wanted, or currently for sale: allowing sellers to trust the valuation that they are provided.

Additionally, the MyPortfolio collection management service grants you free access to our comprehensive print market database. This resource allows you to review auction histories for the specific work you’re looking to sell, including hammer prices, values paid, and seller returns. In a fluctuating market, this historical data is invaluable - and often comes at a cost elsewhere - offering insights into past and current values to further inform decisions based on market timing and conditions. In addition to our specialists guidance, you have concrete data.

Our approach is tailored to align with the unique attributes of each artwork, and offer optimal results:

How a Private Sale Works

Unlike peer-to-peer platforms, which lack specialised expertise, authenticity guarantees, and legal infrastructure for high-value sales, MyArtBroker operates through private sales ensuring a secure and seamless transaction process. We charge sellers 0% to sell, and take a small commission from our buyers, absorbing essential aspects including insurance, shipping, and marketing - at no extra cost to the seller. There is no magic to it, we’re a lean specialised business with less overheads than traditional models meaning we can do better for our clients.

Our revenue is derived from buyer commissions only, which are individually negotiated upon offer, and we aim to give the client the best return in the market place. By focusing on high-value artworks in excess of £10,000, we provide specialised care and expertise, ensuring each piece receives the attention it deserves, while simultaneously maximising returns with our clients. For works that fall below this threshold speak to the team about a recommendation, we offer market advisory free of charge. Our goal at MyArtBroker is to offer a seamless solution, setting us apart in the art market.

Advisory and Recommendations

In cases for artists and artworks, where our existing network of collectors isn’t the best fit due to value, medium or condition we collaborate with reputable partners to facilitate its sale. Carefully tailoring your artwork to the right party. This tailored approach is especially important as it considers the unique attributes of each artwork, providing sellers with the best possible outcome in today’s shifting art market. You can discuss this approach with us without charge as part of our advisory service.

Such recommendations are on a case-by-case basis, and ensures broader exposure and takes advantage of our knowledge of where a work will do best.

In addition to our live trading floor, MyArtBroker's MyPortfolio serves as a collection management system, empowering collectors to curate and oversee their prints and editions collection. This feature grants users access to our print market database, uniquely tied to our proprietary algorithm, SingularityX. This algorithm scans and analyses both public auction and private sales data to determine real time valuations of individual print works, factoring in various aspects such as condition, colour, and other factors affecting value.

Read What Powers MyArtBroker's Technology? In Conversation With Stuart Jamieson, Financial Quant to learn more about our algorithm.

Emerging art tech tools are vital in navigating the current, and evolving, digital art market landscape. For instance, by adding David Wojnarowicz prints from our website to the MyPortfolio dashboard, users gain insight into unique sale opportunities and observe market performance and fluctuations as they happen, streamlining the sales process effortlessly. Our pioneering technology has revolutionised art portfolio management, making it more accessible and equipping users with data-driven insights for informed decisions. MyArtBroker harnesses cutting-edge technology driven by data, coupled with a team of industry experts, to deliver an exceptional experience. Our professionals work closely with clients, utilising the MyPortfolio dashboard, to provide personalised guidance for creating a profitable art collection. By merging technology and expertise, we are committed to offering unparalleled curation and customer service.