James Lechay Paintings & Artwork for Sale | James Lechay Art Value Price Guide

Sep. 13, 2026
James Lechay (MA,IA,1907-2001) oil painting
Est: $1,050 - $1,350
ARTIST: James Lechay (Massachusetts, Iowa, 1907 - 2001) TITLE: Circus Scene MEDIUM: oil on canvas CONDITION: Two patches. Some paint losses. Minor craquelure. No visible inpaint under UV light. Wear to frame. ART SIZE: 22 x 15 inches / 56 x 38 cm FRAME SIZE: 26 x 19 inches / 66 x 48 cm SIGNATURE: lower left LOCATION: This lot is located at our Mamaroneck, NY office. CATEGORY: old antique vintage painting for auction sale online AD: ART WANTED: Consign, Trade In, Cash Offer SKU#: 158977 US SHIPPING: $105 + insurance. BIOGRAPHY: The late Wellfleet artist James Lechay (1907-2001) was an abstract impressionist who painted with a combination of bravado and subtlety. Loose bold contours defining an image on a flat ground is typical of his work. Lechay was also incredibly versatile and inventive. Works in oils, gouache, casein, and lithography show his mastery of various materials and techniques. His oeuvre encompasses the traditional genres in representational painting, but often made in unusual ways. His landscapes include cityscape some abstracted to their essence. For a short time in the 1930s Lechay was a social realist, taking part in exhibitions protesting such injustices as homelessness and racism. Though he soon removed politics from his painting, he remained politically active and became a leader of the Artists Union, an organization of artists employed in the Works Progress Administration (WPA). In 1938 the WPA sent him to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he organized a gallery and set up exhibitions of work by Milton Avery, Max Weber, and other WPA artists. Back in New York, he was once arrested along with several other artists for demonstrating at WPA headquarters. When the police asked for his name, he answered with James Picasso. Following suit, the others called themselves after their favorite artists - Manet, Cezanne, Matisse, etc. Ultimately, they were all released, the police never having caught on to the deception.At the time, Hans Hoffman was exposing New York artists to European Modernism. Analytical, synthetic, and mechanical Cubism coupled with Surrealism and Naive/Primitive Painting were heady influences, and in their midst the New York School of Painting was born. Lechay was immersed in and affected for the rest of his life by the surface-oriented painting that emerged in that era.Numerous Award winning achievements and in many museums and private collections world wide .
Broward Auction Gallery LLC
Jun. 27, 2026
JAMES LECHAY (AMERICAN, 1907-2001)
Est: $1,000 - $2,000
James Lechay American, 1907-2001 Oil on canvas Signed lower right, also signed and dated December 1945 on verso. City scene, framed.
Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers
Jun. 06, 2026
James Lechay (1904-2001) Head-Iowa City, Oil on canvas mounted on panel, 14 x 10 1/2", 14 1/2 x 11" framed
Est: $600 - $800
James Lechay (1904-2001) Head-Iowa City, Oil on canvas mounted on panel, 14 x 10 1/2", 14 1/2 x 11" framed
Bakker Auctions
May. 16, 2026
JAMES LECHAY (Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001), Green and Gray #1, undated., Casein on paper, 14" x 11". Framed 21" x 17".
Est: $800 - $1,200
JAMES LECHAY Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001 Green and Gray #1, undated. Signed upper left. Kraushaar Galleries label verso.
Eldred's
May. 05, 2026
J. Lechay, Abstract Cityscape
Est: $100 - $10,000
James Lechay (American,1907-2001), ink wash on paper, inscribed, signed, and dated lower edge. Frame size: 17 3/8" high, 14 7/8" wide, paper size: 12 3/4" high, 10 1/4" wide. Light toning.
Schwenke Auctioneers
Apr. 17, 2025
James Lechay "Standing Figure..." Mixed Media
Est: $800 - $1,200
James Lechay (American, 1907-2001), "Standing Figure in Unfamiliar Background", Mixed Media on Paper, charcoal, watercolor, and gouache, depicting an abstract figure in blue on blue ground, signed upper right, titled to verso, cerused wood frame. Image: 31" H x 22" W; frame: 33" H x 25" W. Provenance: From a Greenwich Village Estate. Keywords: Painting, Drawing, Works on Paper, Abstract Impressionist, Abstract Impressionism, Figural, Figurative, Texture, 20th Century Art
Auctions at Showplace
Apr. 04, 2025
JAMES LECHAY (Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001), "Things on a Table"., Oil on canvas, 24" x 27". Framed 25" x 28".
Est: $1,500 - $2,000
JAMES LECHAY Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001 "Things on a Table". Signed upper right "James Lechay". Titled and dated 1949 verso.
Eldred's
Mar. 09, 2025
JAMES LECHAY (AMERICAN, 1907-2001).
Est: $500 - $700
'Head with Hand and Gray Hair', 1989. oil on canvas laid to board. Signed upper left. Verso: Signed dated, and titled. Provenance: Doyle New York, NYC, 'Design' October 10, 2007. Lot 4116. Property from a Brooklyn, NYC estate. Dimensions: 16.125" h x 14.75" w. Frame: 17" h x 16"w.
Clarke Auction Gallery
Jul. 11, 2024
JAMES LECHAY (Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001), "Lighthouse"., Watercolor on paper, 31" x 23". Framed 33" x 25".
Est: $800 - $1,000
JAMES LECHAY Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001 "Lighthouse". Signed lower right "James Lechay". Signed and titled verso.
Eldred's
Mar. 06, 2024
James Lechay, The Lameds
Est: $1,500 - $2,500
James Lechay The Lameds 1991-92 oil on canvas 58 h x 45 w in (147 x 114 cm) Signed to upper left 'James Lechay'. Signed, titled and dated to verso 'James Lechay The Larneds 1991-1992'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Feb. 15, 2024
James Lechay, City Scene
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay City Scene 1945 watercolor on paper sight: 19.5 h x 25.5 w in (50 x 65 cm) Signed and dated to lower edge 'James Lechay 45'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Toomey & Co. Auctioneers
Feb. 01, 2024
James Lechay, Head - Iowa City
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Head - Iowa City c. 1950 oil on canvas laid to Masonite 14 h x 10.5 w in (36 x 27 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. Signed to verso 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Wright
Dec. 14, 2023
James Lechay, Portrait
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Portrait oil on canvas laid to board 12 h x 8 w in (30 x 20 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. Provenance: Estate of the artist | Private Collection This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Nov. 30, 2023
James Lechay, Portrait
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Portrait oil on canvas 20 h x 14 w in (51 x 36 cm) Signed to verso 'James Lechay'. Provenance: Estate of the artist | Private Collection This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Los Angeles Modern Auctions
Nov. 03, 2023
James Lechay, City Street
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay City Street 1968 gouache on paper sight: 30.125 h x 22.125 w in (77 x 56 cm) Signed and dated to lower edge 'James Lechay 1968'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Oct. 27, 2023
James Lechay, The Cape
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay The Cape gouache and graphite on paper 22 h x 30.375 w in (56 x 77 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. Titled to verso 'The Cape'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Wright
Oct. 10, 2023
James Lechay, Female Nude
Est: $700 - $900
James Lechay Female Nude watercolor and graphite on paper sight: 14 h x 10.375 w in (36 x 26 cm) Signed to lower edge 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Toomey & Co. Auctioneers
Sep. 27, 2023
James Lechay, City Scene
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay City Scene 1968 graphite and gouache on paper sight: 22 h x 29.5 w in (56 x 75 cm) Signed and dated to lower right 'James Lechay 1968'. Provenance: Estate of the artist | Private Collection This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Sep. 07, 2023
James Lechay, Portrait
Est: $400 - $600
James Lechay Portrait 1973 lithograph on Copperplate Deluxe 35 h x 25 w in (89 x 63 cm) Signed and numbered to lower right 'James Lechay 3/20'. This work is number 3 from the edition of 20 printed and published by the Tamarind Institute, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Literature: Tamarind 281 This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Los Angeles Modern Auctions
Aug. 08, 2023
James Lechay, Untitled
Est: $400 - $600
James Lechay Untitled screenprint in colors 23 h x 35 w in (58 x 89 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. This work is a trial proof. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Wright
Aug. 08, 2023
James Lechay, Blue Abstraction
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Blue Abstraction gouache on paper 20.625 h x 27.125 w in (52 x 69 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Wright
Aug. 01, 2023
James Lechay, Urban Scene
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Urban Scene gouache on paper sight: 18.75 h x 24.125 w in (48 x 61 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Los Angeles Modern Auctions
Jul. 27, 2023
James Lechay, Portrait
Est: $400 - $600
James Lechay Portrait lithograph in colors with hand-coloring 30.5 h x 25.5 w in (77 x 65 cm) Signed and numbered to lower edge 'James Lechay 12/20'. This work is number 12 from the edition of 20. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Toomey & Co. Auctioneers
Jul. 26, 2023
James Lechay, Fruit - A Day in September
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Fruit - A Day in September watercolor and charcoal on paper 10.5 h x 12.375 w in (27 x 31 cm) Signed to upper left 'James Lechay'. Titled to verso 'Fruit - A Day in September'. Provenance: Estate of the artist | Private Collection This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Toomey & Co. Auctioneers
Jul. 13, 2023
James Lechay, Beach
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Beach gouache on paper sight: 14.5 h x 21.5 w in (37 x 55 cm) Signed to lower left 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Jul. 12, 2023
James Lechay, Seascape
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Seascape watercolor on paper sight: 20.25 h x 24.5 w in (51 x 62 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Wright
Jun. 13, 2023
James Lechay, Still Life in Red
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Still Life in Red watercolor and graphite on paper 29 h x 20.375 w in (74 x 52 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Jun. 13, 2023
James Lechay, Composition in Blue
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Composition in Blue gouache on paper sight: 24.875 h x 19.5 w in (63 x 50 cm) Signed to lower left 'James Lechay'. Provenance: Spanierman, New York | Private Collection This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
May. 18, 2023
James Lechay, Two Bottles
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Two Bottles 1994 oil on canvas 16 h x 12 w in (41 x 30 cm) Signed to lower left 'James Lechay'. Signed and titled to verso 'James Lechay Two Bottles'. Provenance: Estate of the artist | Spanierman, New York | Private Collection This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
May. 12, 2023
James Lechay (American 1907-2001), Rome, Dec 12, 1966; Casein on handmade paper, Paper size: 30-1/2 x 22-3/4 in (77.5 x 57.8 cm)
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
James Lechay (American, 1907-2001) Rome, Dec 12, 1966 Casein on handmade paper Signed James Lechay and dated 1967 in pencil u.l.
Weschler's
Apr. 20, 2023
James Lechay, Blue, Yellow and Grey
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Blue, Yellow and Grey gouache on paper 20.125 h x 25.25 w in (51 x 64 cm) Signed to lower edge 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Wright
Apr. 19, 2023
James Lechay, Face
Est: $600 - $800
James Lechay Face acrylic, ink and graphite on paper sight: 13.125 h x 10.375 w in (33 x 26 cm) Signed to lower edge 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Toomey & Co. Auctioneers
Apr. 19, 2023
James Lechay, City Streets by the Water
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay City Streets by the Water 1945 watercolor on paper sight: 18.75 h x 26.125 w in (48 x 66 cm) Signed and dated to upper left 'James Lechay 45'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Toomey & Co. Auctioneers
Mar. 29, 2023
James Lechay, Grey on Grey
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Grey on Grey oil on canvas 18.25 h x 9 w in (46 x 23 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. Signed to verso 'James Lechay'. Provenance: Estate of the Artist | Private Collection This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Mar. 23, 2023
James Lechay, Sky Composition
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Sky Composition gouache on paper sight: 15.125 h x 22.5 w in (38 x 57 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Los Angeles Modern Auctions
Jan. 25, 2023
James Lechay, Savior Revisited #1
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Savior Revisited #1 gouache on paper 20.25 h x 25.25 w in (51 x 64 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. Signed and dated to verso 'Savior Revisited #1 James Lechay'. This work will ship from Rago in Lambertville, New Jersey.
Wright
Dec. 15, 2022
James Lechay, Boat
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Boat gouache on paper 10.875 h × 13.875 w in (28 × 35 cm) Signed to upper right 'James Lechay'. Signed and titled to verso 'Boat James Lechay'. This work will ship from Rago in Lambertville, New Jersey.
Los Angeles Modern Auctions
Dec. 07, 2022
James Lechay, Figure with Mountains
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Figure with Mountains gouache on paper 22.25 h × 29.875 w in (57 × 76 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Rago in Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Dec. 07, 2022
James Lechay, Untitled
Est: $1,800 - $2,400
James Lechay Untitled oil on canvas laid to panel 36 h × 46.25 w in (91 × 117 cm) Signed to upper right 'James Lechay'. Provenance: James Lechay Estate, University of Iowa | Private Collection This work will ship from Rago in Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Oct. 13, 2022
James Lechay, Untitled
Est: $800 - $1,000
James Lechay Untitled gouache on paper sight: 18.75 h × 23.875 w in (48 × 61 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Rago in Lambertville, New Jersey.
Wright
Sep. 29, 2022
James Lechay, Blue Composition with Pink and Yellow
Est: $1,200 - $1,800
James Lechay Blue Composition with Pink and Yellow gouache on paper 20.875 w × 24.875 d in (53 × 63 cm) Signed to lower right 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Rago in Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Sep. 29, 2022
James Lechay, Yellow and Gray Composition
Est: $1,500 - $2,500
James Lechay Yellow and Gray Composition gouache on paper 22.25 h × 29.875 w in (57 × 76 cm) Signed to lower left 'James Lechay'. This work will ship from Rago in Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Sep. 22, 2022
JAMES LECHAY (Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001), Whaling village, 1943., Watercolor on cream wove paper, 16" x 23.25". Unframed.
Est: $800 - $1,200
JAMES LECHAY Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001 Whaling village, 1943. Signed and dated lower right "James Lechay 43".
Eldred's
Sep. 22, 2022
JAMES LECHAY (Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001), Moon over the sea., Gouache on heavy cream wove paper, 15.5” x 22.5”. Unframed.
Est: $700 - $1,000
JAMES LECHAY Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001 Moon over the sea. Signed "James Lechay" lower left.
Eldred's
Sep. 22, 2022
JAMES LECHAY (Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001), "Objects on Red and Brown"., Mixed media on paper, 22.75" x 32.25". Unframed.
Est: $800 - $1,200
JAMES LECHAY Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001 "Objects on Red and Brown". Signed "James Lechay" lower left. Titled in pencil verso.
Eldred's
Aug. 20, 2022
James Lechay, Am. 1907-2001, Cape Cod, Oil on paper, framed under glass, 22" x 29" sight, 31" x 38 3/8" framed
Est: $800 - $1,200
James Lechay Am., 1907-2001 Cape Cod Oil on paper, framed under glass Signed l.l.
Barridoff Auctions
Jul. 26, 2022
JAMES LECHAY (Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001), Still life of fruit., Mixed media, 10" x 11.75" sight. Framed 11.25" x 13.25".
Est: $800 - $1,200
JAMES LECHAY Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001 Still life of fruit. Signed upper left "James Lechay".
Eldred's
Jul. 26, 2022
JAMES LECHAY (Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001), "Three Part Landscape 1987"., Oil on board, 22" x 30". Framed 24.5" x 34".
Est: $1,500 - $2,000
JAMES LECHAY Massachusetts/Iowa, 1907-2001 "Three Part Landscape 1987". Signed lower right "James Lechay". Titled verso.
Eldred's