Market Watch Roy Lichtenstein: Top 10 Most Investable Prints

As part of Lichtenstein's later print series, Water Lilies (1992), this collection reimagines Claude Monet's iconic Nymphéas with a distinctive Pop Art twist. Comprising six screenprints on stainless steel, the series masterfully merges Lichtenstein's deep art historical understanding with his signature expressive techniques, gaining significant popularity in the 2023 and continuing into 2024 market.

Water Lily Pond With Reflections, set a record in May 2023, selling for £1.5 million (with fees), making it Lichtenstein's highest-selling print of the year. In 2024, the work reappeared at Sotheby's November sale, achieving £1.1 million with fees, showcasing continued demand for this print and the rising appreciation for the prints and editions market.

Nude With Yellow Pillow (1994), part of Lichtenstein's coveted Nudes collection, is another rare work to appear at auction. This print set an impressive record in 2023, selling as an Artist Proof (AP) at Phillips' October sale for £450,000. However, that record was recently surpassed at Sotheby’s November 2024 sales, where it achieved an outstanding £952,284, establishing a new benchmark and securing its place among Lichtenstein's top-selling prints.

Nude With Blue Hair, another rare and sought-after print, also appeared at Sotheby’s November 2024 sales. This piece, featuring a cropped close-up of a topless woman with tasseled blue hair and a sultry gaze, originally set a record in April 2023, selling for £600,000. However, that record was surpassed this year, achieving an impressive £758,630, further highlighting the enduring demand for Lichtenstein’s Nudes series.

In Two Nudes (1994), a part of Lichtenstein's renowned Nudes series, diverges from traditional portraiture. Instead, Lichtenstein delves into voyeurism, capturing two alluring women in the intimate setting of a home. One woman, depicted in monochrome Ben-Day dots, lies on her stomach on the bed, her face concealed. The other, portrayed in coloured Ben-Day dots, reveals the hues of her skin as she sits on the bed.

This interplay of monochrome and colour showcases Lichtenstein's mastery of tones, creating a scene reminiscent of a comic book script, yet open to interpretation. Unlike many of his female-centric works that often depict damsels in distress, Two Nudes allows viewers to draw their own conclusions. Rare and appearing only once in 2023, the piece fetched £254,000 (with fees) in September, securing its position as the third-highest selling print in Lichtenstein's 2023 sales. Its previous appearance in 2020 commanded £162,500 (with fees), indicating a remarkable 56% increase in sales value.

Reflections On Crash (1990) belongs to Lichtenstein's renowned Reflections series, showcasing the artist's ambition and curiosity as he reimagines conventional images through a glass lens. In a triumphant comeback, this artwork achieved a record-breaking sale of £167,164 at Bonhams in October 2023, surpassing its performance in the two previous sales in 2022.

Exemplifying its strong commercial allure, Nude Reading secures its spot among Lichtenstein's highest-selling prints in 2023. Using his renowned Ben-Day dot technique, Lichtenstein portrays a serene nude woman seated on a bed, exuding contentment. Unlike the typical distressed damsel often depicted in his works, this woman appears confident, legs crossed, one arm casually resting on her head, while holding a book in the other hand.

This artwork has proven its appeal, achieving successful sales on the secondary market twice in 2023. It fetched £132,583 at Sotheby's and £163,617 at Phillips (with fees), both transactions occurring in April. Lichtenstein's Nudes series has notably gained traction in the secondary market this year, and it wouldn't be surprising to witness more pieces emerge throughout the remainder of the year.

Lichtenstein's Landscapes, Moonscapes, Seascapes series drew attention in 2023. This series showcased his unique reinterpretation of landscape settings, highlighting the versatility of his artistic approach. In 2023, Seascape (1985) made two appearances, marking its first entry in the market within the past five years. Its sale as a right-to-print (RTP) proof, an early proof ensuring limited edition print quality before full production, set a new record at Phillips selling for £135,705 in October.

Moonscape (C. 212) (1985) belongs to Lichtenstein's Landscapes, Moonscapes, Seascapes series, where he merges landscape settings with a pop art aesthetic, offering a unique reinterpretation of art history. Created in the 1980s, the artwork portrays a coastal scene featuring slanted trees, water, and sand, rendered through hand-painted swaths of colour. Two abstract women are depicted sitting and standing in the right-hand corner, adding depth to the composition.

This piece is part of an experimental yet successful series where Lichtenstein deviated from his signature Ben-Day dots, showcasing his versatile approach to Pop Art. The work's appeal was underscored by its sale in May, achieving £123,627 (with fees), securing its place among Lichtenstein's top-selling prints in 2023.

Artworks such as The Melody Haunts My Reverie (1965) don't fall into a specific series but capture Lichtenstein's style from the 1960s. While still showcasing his iconic female muse, these pieces reflect his early artistic evolution. These works maintained competitive pricing compared to his highly-coveted Nudes series in 2023, and this work sold at Phillips in October, selling for £130,486.