Sell My Art

Free Art Appraisal in Los Angeles

Discover What Your Artwork May Be Worth — Free Evaluations and No-Obligation Purchase Offers

Do you own a painting, sculpture, or limited edition print and want to know what it may be worth? American Estate Buyers provides free art evaluations for individuals considering selling their artwork in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and throughout Southern California.
With over 20 years of experience in the fine art market, we evaluate original paintings, sculptures, works on paper, and select limited edition prints by established American, European, and Latin American artists.
Whether you inherited artwork, are downsizing a collection, or simply want to explore its resale value, we can help you understand the current market and determine whether your artwork is something we would be interested in purchasing.
Our evaluations are free, confidential, and come with no obligation to sell.
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Submit Your Artwork for Evaluation

Professional Art Evaluations in Los Angeles

Determining the value of fine art involves considerably more than identifying an artist or looking up prices online. Two paintings by the same artist can have dramatically different values depending on their size, subject matter, condition, authenticity, and desirability among collectors.
At American Estate Buyers, we evaluate artwork using available market information, including recent auction results, comparable sales, and current demand in the secondary art market.
Our goal is to provide an informed assessment of your artwork’s potential resale value and, when appropriate, a competitive offer to purchase it directly.
Unlike an auction house or traditional consignment service, we can purchase qualifying artwork ourselves. This allows sellers to avoid waiting for an auction or finding an eventual buyer.
Our Pasadena location serves art owners throughout greater Los Angeles, and we also work with collectors and estates across the country.

What Types of Artwork Do We Evaluate?

We specialize in fine art by established and collectible artists, with particular interest in 19th- and 20th-century artwork, as well as select contemporary works.
  • Original Paintings
    • We evaluate original oil paintings, acrylic paintings, watercolors, and other works by recognized artists.
    • Our interests include California Impressionism, American landscapes, Western art, modernism, abstract art, and contemporary painting.
  • Limited Edition Prints and Works on Paper
    • Signed lithographs, screenprints, etchings, woodcuts, and other limited edition works can have significant resale value, particularly when created by established artists.
    • Edition size, signature, condition, and authenticity all influence market demand.
    • We can also review original drawings, pastels, and other works on paper.
  • Fine Art Sculpture
    • Our buying interests include bronze, stone, glass, and other collectible sculptures by recognized artists.
    • We consider the artist, materials, dimensions, edition information, casting history, provenance, and condition when evaluating sculpture.
  • Inherited Artwork and Estate Collections
    • If you inherited artwork or are responsible for handling an estate, you may not know the artist, origin, or value of every piece.
    • We regularly work with families, private collectors, trustees, executors, and estate professionals who need help identifying potentially valuable works of art.
    • You do not need to research or catalog every item before contacting us. Photographs of the artwork and any available documentation are often enough to begin the evaluation process.
Learn More About Selling Fine Art

How Does Our Free Art Appraisal Process Work?

We make the process straightforward, whether you own one painting or an extensive collection.

Step 1: Send Photographs of Your Artwork

Start by texting or emailing us clear photographs of your artwork.
Whenever possible, include:
  • A photograph of the entire front of the artwork
  • A photograph of the back
  • Close-up images of any signatures, markings, or edition numbers
  • Approximate dimensions, excluding the frame
  • The artist's name, if known
  • Any receipts, certificates of authenticity, gallery labels, or previous appraisal documents
If you do not know who created your artwork, you can still send photographs for an initial review.

Step 2: We Research and Evaluate Your Artwork

We review the information provided and assess whether the artwork falls within our buying interests.
Depending on the piece, our evaluation may consider previous auction sales, comparable artworks, historical market performance, condition, provenance, and current demand.
Some works require additional photographs, documentation, or an in-person inspection before we can determine their potential resale value.

Step 3: Receive a No-Obligation Purchase Offer

If your artwork is of interest, we can discuss its potential resale value and provide an offer to purchase it.
There is no charge for our initial evaluation and no obligation to accept an offer.
If you decide to sell, we can arrange the next steps, including any necessary inspection and payment.
Ready to get started?
Text photographs to (323) 829-3911, or email info@americanestatebuyers.com.

What Determines the Value of a Painting?

One of the most common questions we receive is, “How much is my painting worth?”
The answer depends on several important factors.
  • Artist and attribution
    Artwork by recognized artists generally has more established resale markets. Confirmed authorship is particularly important.
  • Subject matter and artistic period
    Collectors may pay premiums for specific subjects, recognizable compositions, or works from an artist's most desirable periods.
  • Size and medium
    Original oil paintings, works on paper, prints, and sculptures can have substantially different market values.
  • Condition
    Restoration, fading, tears, damage, or alterations may influence the price a buyer is willing to pay.
  • Provenance
    Gallery invoices, exhibition records, previous ownership, and other documentation can help establish an artwork's history and authenticity.
  • Recent comparable sales
    Actual sales of similar works often provide more useful pricing information than unsold asking prices.
An artwork’s original purchase price or previous insurance appraisal does not necessarily reflect what it would sell for today.

Free Art Evaluation vs. Formal Art Appraisal

It is important to understand that different types of appraisals serve different purposes.
A formal written appraisal may be required for insurance coverage, charitable donations, estate tax filings, or legal proceedings. These reports may need to be prepared by a qualified independent appraiser following applicable professional standards.
American Estate Buyers provides complimentary market evaluations for owners considering a sale.
Our evaluations focus on potential resale value and whether we can make a direct purchase offer. They are not substitutes for independent written appraisals required for insurance, tax, or legal purposes.
If you are looking to sell artwork rather than obtain a formal report, our evaluation service offers a convenient place to begin.

Why Choose American Estate Buyers?

  • Over 20 Years of Fine Art Market Experience
    We have extensive experience buying and evaluating artwork across a wide variety of collecting categories, from traditional American paintings to modern and contemporary art.
  • Direct Purchase Offers
    We are art buyers, not simply an appraisal referral service. If your artwork meets our buying criteria, we can make a direct offer rather than requiring you to consign it.
  • No Seller Commissions
    When you sell artwork directly to us, there are no auction seller commissions or consignment fees deducted from the agreed purchase price.
  • Private, Straightforward Transactions
    We work directly with collectors, families, and estates. Your evaluation inquiry is confidential, and you are never obligated to sell.
  • Local Southern California Experience
    Our office is located in Pasadena, and we regularly work with art owners throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
    We understand the market for California artists while maintaining broad buying interests in American, European, and international fine art.

Art Appraisals in Pasadena and Throughout Los Angeles

American Estate Buyers is based at 1472 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91106, and serves clients throughout Los Angeles County and surrounding Southern California communities.
We work with artwork owners in Pasadena, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, San Marino, South Pasadena, Arcadia, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, the San Gabriel Valley, and other nearby areas.
Appointments are available by arrangement. We recommend sending photographs before visiting so we can determine whether your artwork falls within our areas of interest.
For substantial collections, we can also discuss on-site evaluations and purchase arrangements.
If you live outside California, you can contact us remotely with photographs and information about your collection.

Artists and Artwork We Are Interested in Purchasing

Our buying interests cover a wide range of established artists. Examples include:
These are only examples of the many artists we consider.
If your artist is not listed, please contact us. We evaluate artwork by a much broader range of artists than those featured on our website.
View More Artists and Artwork We Purchase

Frequently Asked Questions About Art Appraisals

Where can I get a free art appraisal near Los Angeles?

American Estate Buyers offers free preliminary art evaluations for people considering selling fine art. We are located in Pasadena and work with clients throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. Send photographs by text or email to get started.
Photographs can often provide enough information for an initial assessment. However, authenticity, condition, and other factors may require closer inspection before we can provide a firm purchase offer.

Our preliminary evaluations for potential purchases are free. There is no fee to submit artwork for review and no obligation to accept a purchase offer.

We do not provide formal written appraisal reports for insurance, tax, or legal purposes as part of this service.

Yes. American Estate Buyers purchases qualifying fine art directly from private owners, collectors, and estates. If your artwork fits our buying interests, we can provide an offer based on its potential resale value.

You can submit photographs even if the artist is unknown. Signatures, labels, inscriptions, and other identifying details may help us determine whether the artwork is within our areas of expertise.

We cannot guarantee that every unidentified work can be attributed or valued from photographs alone.

Yes. We work with heirs, trustees, executors, and families who have inherited individual artworks or larger collections. We can review photographs or inventories to identify items that may be suitable for purchase.
Not necessarily. Insurance appraisals frequently reflect retail replacement value, while a direct purchase offer reflects the secondary market and the economics of resale.
No. Most inquiries can begin with photographs sent by email or text. If an in-person inspection is needed, we can discuss an appointment or other suitable arrangements.
We generally respond to initial inquiries within 24 hours. More complex artwork or collections may require additional research or inspection before an offer can be made.

Get a Free Art Appraisal in Los Angeles Today

If you have a valuable painting, sculpture, or limited edition print and are considering selling it, American Estate Buyers can help you explore your options.
Whether you are selling a single artwork or managing an inherited collection, we offer experienced evaluations, competitive direct purchase offers, and a straightforward process with no obligation to sell.
American Estate Buyers
Contact Us for a Free Art Evaluation
Free evaluations are provided for artwork being considered for potential purchase. Formal written appraisals for insurance, tax, and legal purposes are not included.
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