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Did you know about the most valuable art or the highest auction bids of the last century? There are so many names that made splashes in the art market! The names keep coming as we talk about the masterpieces of the era.

Some artists became more than just creators; they became legends. Their names appear frequently in brochures, art fairs, or any multi-million-dollar auctions! Step into any of the renowned art museums or auction houses, and you’ll notice something fascinating — these names always top the charts.

Those were the artists whose phenomenal works not only shaped art history but also shot up in price over time! As their masterpieces fetched skyrocketing prices and sparked international bidding wars, their names became permanently etched in art market and sales history. 

“But what does it mean to be a bestselling artist of the twentieth century? Is it sheer talent, cultural impact, or the ability to bring the highest bids? To be honest, it’s likely a mix of all these factors!“

In this blog, we’ll figure out who the bestselling artists of the 20th century were and what made collectors fight for their masterpieces in top-tier auctions & art bids!

Join us on this soul-stirring journey to find these incredibly sought-after modern masters — and unbox their stories, no less fascinating than the price tags. 

1. Pablo Picasso – The Undisputed Master of Cubism!

For the art lovers, it’s all about Picasso art! It is impossible to discuss twentieth-century art without ever naming the great Spanish genius Pablo Picasso! He was full of creative ideas, as a painter and sculptor. Picasso and Braque turned geometric shapes and fragments into something fascinating and remarkable as Cubism. Picasso is often revered as the most influential artist of the 20th century, also one of the most prolific.

His innovation, intuition, and far-sightedness made his artworks some of the most valuable in art history. With nearly 50,000 artworks to his name, his works attract the highest bids in the top-tier auctions. 

One of Picasso’s eminent works, Les Femmes d’Alger, was sold for a staggering $179 million at Christie’s in 2015 — the number quite astronomical to make headlines! This was one of the highest-priced paintings to make waves at the auctions.  

2. Andy Warhol – The Prince of Pop Art!

Whenever you see works by Andy Warhol, you must watch them twice! Yes, it’s the magic of his colors, the glitter of the screen prints, Marilyn Monroe painting, soup cans, and more consumer idols. We have to look for the meanings hidden in those pop symbols. 

There are few artists who blurred the line between fame, commerce, and creativity like Andy Warhol. The screen prints of cultural icons became major collectibles in the last century, giving way to fame and dollar signs!   

Warhol’s Blue Marilyn Monroe portrait (done in electric blue and pink colors) fetched $195 million in 2022, making it the most expensive 20th-century artwork ever sold at auction.

His silkscreen prints and creations proved that commercial art could also be as phenomenal and glamorous when it comes to seizing glances and making a fortune!

3. Jean-Michel Basquiat – Raw and Real Street Art to Sotheby’s!

It is the story of an urban legend — it’s all about the spectacular rise of Basquiat in the last decades of the twentieth century. From graffiti walls in New York to the gallery halls of Sotheby’s, his works fetched fame and high-value sales in the postmodern era. Jean-Michel Basquiat started as an American graffiti artist and became one of the best-selling American artists working on themes like racial discrimination, identity, and power politics.

From street art to fine art — his rise was meteoric. When you see his works, you can feel the wild lines, symbols, and fierce emotions coming alive.

His untitled Skull painting was sold for $110.5 million in 2017, making it one of the most expensive artworks of an American artist in the postmodern scenario!

Though Basquiat died at a young age, his legacy would last forever!

4. Claude Monet – The Lasting Impressions by the True Impressionist!

When we think of serene water lilies, we think of Claude Monet — without any speck of doubt! He was the pioneer of French Impressionism, celebrated for his soft palettes and dreamy landscapes.

Though Monet’s career began in the later part of the 19th century, his paintings dominated the art scene, carrying his legacy well into the 20^th century. He remains one of the favorites of collectors who seek more than brilliance — prestige.  

In recent times, several of his illustrious works like Monet Water Lilies and Haystacks series have fetched a fortune of over $100 million dollars in Christie’s, giving him the status of an immortal legend.

A single piece from his Haystacks series was sold for $110 million to mark that the timeless beauty of nature paintings never goes out of style!

It took him decades to paint the series of divine blooms, including ‘Le Bassin aux Nymphéas’ and ‘Nymphéas en Fleur’ (1914–17), that changed the whole perspective of nature paintings. Yes, his phenomenal works took some time to get skyrocketed in the 20^th century!

5. Jackson Pollock – Managing Chaos on Canvas in Style!

Whenever you drip paint on the canvas and blame your tools for the ‘happy accidents’ — think of the master of chaos — Jackson Pollock! He was quite famous for his messy drip paintings and distinctive style — the way he redefined and shaped the art of abstraction, and largely, the art market. And, strikingly enough, he hardly used brushes to do the tricks of dripping — he used to pour and fling paint in all directions! And they made wonders!

One can feel his large-scale canvases, messy, unpredictable, pulsating with raw energy. It’s pure bliss to watch his gestural strokes, which became the powerful symbols of American expressionism.

Something truly remarkable happened in 2016! Number 17A, one of his abstract masterpieces was sold in a private sale for over $200 million. 

It’s More Pricey than the Price Tags!

It’s easy to be dazzled by the astronomical numbers of $200 million like counting stars! They are staggering enough! But what matters is the way these artists have painted those masterpieces — the way they have touched a million hearts to be the bestselling artists of the 20th century!

Their works do not belong to the realm of beauty alone — they have made history, challenged rules, and inspired generations. These master artists have left behind the works people are still willing to fight for, bidding worth millions!

And that makes them more than just iconic painters — the true cultural ambassadors.

“While the art world is embracing changes in many ways, one thing remains true to the core — the power of art to shake things up.“

This is the way these painters have reshaped and rediscovered the way we perceive art. It’s quite evident the way they’ve sold out in auctions like hot cakes!

1. Picasso rediscovered the geometric form through Cubism.
2. Warhol reinvented fame and popular culture.
3. Basquiat redefined the ways marginal voices can be heard.
4. Monet redefined the way light works on landscape.
5. Pollock revolutionized how art can be made of mess.

Their influence continues to shape art lovers and investors alike — connecting passion, prestige, and timeless value.

Does it boggle your mind too when you hear about an expensive painting being sold for millions of dollars? If you just answered yes to that question, then this blog is going to amaze you even more.

People buy and sell paintings all the time, but only a few manage to reach the league of millions. Most of these paintings are by the old maestros who revolutionized the art world and are now worshipped as pioneers for their contributions. Keep reading to find out about every masterpiece in this list. 

4 Most Expensive Paintings Based on Their Selling Price

Every time painting masterpieces are discussed, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci always manages to steal the show. It was valued at $100 million in December 1962 which makes it $970 million at present — just a little shy of touching a billion.  Now on display at the Louvre, this is not only the most expensive painting in the world but also priceless. Since the Louvre is likely never going to sell it, we have excluded it from the list. Rest assured you are still going to be mind blown nonetheless. 

1. Salvator Mundi- Painted by Leonardo da Vinci

The crown-bearer of the most expensive painting ever sold, this depiction of Jesus was sold for a whopping $450 million. The transaction took place at a Christie’s auction that was held in 2017 by a buyer acting on behalf of a prince of Saudi Arabia. If we take inflation into account, the current value of this painting would roughly come around $507 million. 

An interesting fact about the painting is that it had disappeared for almost 2 centuries before it was rediscovered in 2005. Severely damaged and in urgent need of restoration, it was then sold at a lowkey auction for just $1,175. It is also a very controversial painting because many scholars believe that it might not have been made by Da Vinci alone.

2. Interchange – Painted by Willem de Kooning

This painting has gone down in history as a significant piece of work for various reasons. Standing second in this list, it is still the most expensive contemporary painting. In 1989 it was sold for $20.68 million, which was the then highest price for a living artist’s work. Finally, the painting was bought by David Geffen for $300 million in September 2015.

De Kooning was one of the earliest artists from the abstract expressionism movement and this is his seminal piece. It marks his shift of subjects from women to urban landscape and also a change in his techniques. At present its valuation stands at $350.4 million.

3. The Card Players – Painted by Paul Cézanne

Bought by the Royal Family of Qatar in 2011 for $250 million, it is now valued at $307.8 million. This is another seminal work on this list and a part of five oil painting series of the same name. The other four paintings are on display at different museums in Paris, Philadelphia, London, and New York. This is the only painting out of five, which is privately held.

At the time when it was sold, it was the highest price paid for a piece of art, and is still a proud possession of Qatar.

4. When Will You Marry – Painted by Paul Gauguin

The painting’s original name is ‘Nafea Faa Ipoipo.’ It is one of the first paintings Gauguin created after he went on a trip to Tahiti in 1891. The inspiration taken from Tahitian culture is quite evident in the work. 

The ownership of the painting changed in September 2014 when it was bought for $210 million by a buyer from Qatar. The transaction is considered to be one of the most significant ones in the world. The reason is both the popularity of the work as well as the controversy it attracted. It was claimed to have been sold for $300 million initially. Had that been the truth, it would have become the most expensive painting sold at that time.

Expensive Paintings Are More Than Just About Exorbitant Price

Purchasing pieces of art comes with several reasons attached to it. People collect them for their aesthetic appeal, appearance, sentimental value, or sometimes simply because of the backstory it carries. All of these factors combined can highly influence the price of an artwork. However, given the trends in the past couple of decades, buying art has also become an excellent investment choice. Several platforms have started facilitating the sale of art and TERAVARNA is also a part of one such initiative. We have recently launched our Marketplace that displays works of contemporary artists from around the world. What makes it more appealing is that we are a global platform, thus you can buy their artwork from any corner of the world.