Roy Lichtenstein’s Nudes Hit Record Highs and Dominate the Prints Market
Thinking Nude © Roy Lichtenstein 1994
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Roy Lichtenstein’s Nudes series (1994) marks a powerful late-career return to the Ben-Day dot aesthetic that defined his Pop legacy. Created without models and using a carefully limited colour palette, these prints reflect a distilled and stylised approach to the female form. Unlike earlier depictions that played with parody or melodrama, the women in these works appear self-aware and poised – rendered with graphic clarity and striking simplicity.
As some of the final prints Lichtenstein produced before his death, the Nudes collection stands out for it's visual confidence, conceptual sharpness, and increasing market demand among collectors drawn to both their rarity and significance within his oeuvre.
A Resilient Market in a Selective Landscape
Market momentum for Lichtenstein’s Nudes series reached a new high in 2025, driven by not one but two Sotheby’s sales that delivered white-glove results and record prices for the collection.
The first came in May, when Sotheby’s May Contemporary Day sale in New York offered over 70 works – editions and originals – from Lichtenstein’s personal holdings. Three artist proof Nudes editions on offer surpassed previous records:
- Two Nudes (State I): $444,500
- Thinking Nude: $482,600
- Nude Reading: $457,200
This trajectory was powerfully validated in September, when Sotheby’s staged its first-ever live evening sale dedicated to more editioned works from Lichtenstein’s personal collection. Featuring over 90 works and achieving a white-glove result, the sale reaffirmed strong appetite across Lichtenstein's – with the various collections from different time periods.
From the Nudes collection, the top-performing work was Thinking Nude (State I), which achieved $508,000 with fees – a new record for the State I edition. While strong provenance certainly contributed to bidding confidence, the broader takeaway was that even in a selective market, appetite for rare and late-career Lichtenstein remains high.
These back-to-back results position the Nudes collection firmly within the upper tier of Lichtenstein’s print market, and show how rarity, edition structure, and visual clarity are driving premiums in 2025.
Investment Overview: Demand for Lichtenstein’s Nudes
Comprising nine screenprints – several also issued as State I editions – the Nudes series has shown sustained price growth and increased recognition over the past seven years.
In 2024, Nude With Blue Hair sold for £758,630 ($960,000 USD), while Nude With Yellow Pillow set the benchmark with £952,284 ($1.2M USD). Comprising nine screenprints – several also issued as State I editions – the Nudes series has shown sustained price growth and increased recognition over the past seven years.
The 2025 sales confirmed that what were once considered mid-frequency prints (Nude Reading, Thinking Nude) are now capable of commanding high six-figure prices – particularly when backed by strong provenance or in rarer variant formats.
Price Appreciation Trends: 2019 – 2025
From 2019 to 2025, nearly every print in the Nudes series posted positive average value growth:
- Nude With Yellow Pillow: +497% (driven by 2024 record)
- Nude Reading: +307%
- Roommates: +152%
- Thinking Nude: +107%
- Nude With Blue Hair: +95%
- Two Nudes: State I: stable, with a single sale in 2025 (previously unseen since 2010)
- Two Nudes: –7.7%, though offered ten times in seven years, suggesting supply timing, not falling demand
Auction Frequency and Market Liquidity
Auction appearance data reinforces the narrative of scarcity and demand. Nude Reading leads with 12 sales between 2019 and 2025 – double that of most other works – indicating strong liquidity and collector familiarity. Two Nudes (8 sales) and Roommates (6) have also seen regular turnover, but with accelerating price gains in more recent years.
At the other end, Nude With Yellow Pillow and Nude With Blue Hair have appeared just four times each, yet both rank among the top performers in value growth – demonstrating the impact of scarcity on price performance.
What the Nudes Market Means for Consignors and Buyers
For consignors, the current Lichtenstein print market offers strong conditions – especially for less frequently seen prints with standout provenance or visual appeal. Rare works have clearly benefited from scarcity-driven price pressure, while even the most frequently traded editions continue to command strong results when strategically placed.
In today’s climate, private sales can offer a faster, more secure route to liquidity than the public auction cycle – particularly for consignors looking to capitalise on strong demand without risking oversaturation.
For buyers, the data suggests a maturing market with proven upward trajectories. While top-performing prints are commanding higher entry points, several works remain accessible with strong potential for future growth – particularly those still underexposed in auction cycles. Overall, the Nudes are not just holding their ground – they’re establishing themselves as cornerstone assets within Lichtenstein’s print legacy.
Data & Sources
This report draws on MyArtBroker’s proprietary print market database, which tracks more than 400 auction houses worldwide. All prices are reported in GBP (unless otherwise stated), inclusive of buyer’s fees. Performance figures are based on hammer prices, which also underpin the accompanying graphs.