Rating and value of works, drawings, paintings by Antoni Tapies

If you own a work by or based on the work of artist Antoni Tapies and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can advise you. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Then, if you wish to sell your work of art, we will guide you towards the best possible means of obtaining the best possible price.

Artist's rating and value 

A major figure in contemporary art, Antoni Tapies is as highly valued as he is renowned. Exploring several artistic techniques, Tapies' works are commonplace in auction rooms, particularly his lithographs, which sell for hundreds or even thousands of euros at auction. However, the artist's most prized works are his mixed-media compositions. A sure bet on the art market, some of his exceptional canvases fetch millions of euros at auction, as demonstrated by his painting Gran ocra amb incisions, which sold for over a million euros in 2014. 

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

Artist's style and technique

Associated with symbolism and esotericism, Tapies creates works relating to the reign of nature and the human condition.

He experimented with what he called "materiological" techniques, insisting on the tactile character of his surfaces. 

The life of Antoni Tapies

Born in Spain, Antoni Tapies (1923-2012) quickly developed a passion for painting, taking a brief course in drawing before studying law. It wasn't until 1943 that Tapies returned to drawing and painting. He made copies of paintings by Van Gogh and Picasso and became interested in philosophy, which was to have a lasting influence on his art.

Tapies' works, produced in the 1940s, are marked by avant-garde artistic movements such as Surrealism and Dadaism. However, the artist diligently developed his own distinctive style, albeit belonging to Arte Povera. Tàpies was interested in exploring matter and texture, creating organic works that blended paint, sand, pigments, earth, reclaimed materials and other substances.

The artist's imprint on his era

Antoni Tàpies is one of the forerunners of Arte Povera, an Italian art movement that sees itself as a sober reaction to pictorial lyricism, abstract expressionism and Pop Art. The work must be reduced to uncluttered, unemphasized plastic components, against the tide of productivist debauchery. In this way, Arte Povera introduces banality into the sphere of art through the poor gesture, detaching itself from all sophistication.

Antoni Tapiès encourages the rejection of artistic hegemony and traditional methods. For him, the creation of the work precedes the meaning attributed to it, and thus gives rise to a spontaneous work.

In addition to painting, Tàpies has also ventured into sculpture, printmaking, ceramics and installation, constantly pushing back the boundaries of his artistic expression. He has taken part in many major exhibitions around the world and received numerous awards. 

Tàpies' legacy lies not only in his innovative art, but also in his theoretical contribution to contemporary art, of which he is a major figure. He was a fervent defender of artistic freedom and an acerbic critic of society, expressing himself through his theoretical writings on art and culture. 

His signature 

Antoni Tapies' works are not all signed.

Although there are variations, here is a first example of its signature:

Appraising your property

If you happen to own a work by or after Antoni Tapies, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal by filling in our form on our website. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the value of your work, and will ensure that you receive all the relevant information about it. If you're thinking of selling your work, our specialists will also be on hand to offer you alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends and specificities.