> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/alberto-vargas · updated 2026-11-02

# Alberto Vargas (1896–1983)

## What is Alberto Vargas’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 31 auction results for Alberto Vargas at 13 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $160 including buyer’s premium (middle half $133–$227, n=11). The auction record is $16,900 for Untitled (August 1948) (2026, Bonhams). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled (August 1948), 1896 | Watercolor and graphite on paper | $16,900 | Bonhams | Oct 2026 |
| 2 | Lounging Nude, 1943 | Ink | $11,250 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Oct 2019 |
| 3 | REVERIE | Watercolor and graphite on paper | $5,175 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Sep 1994 |
| 4 | Jantzen Swim Suits / Beauty on the Beach, circa 1950s | Swim suit advertisement | $4,420 | Swann Auction Galleries | Aug 2017 |
| 5 | Rocket Girl | Graphite on onion skin | $2,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jan 2021 |
| 6 | Female model, 1949 | Ball point pen and air brush on paper | $1,819 | Bruun Rasmussen | Oct 2011 |
| 7 | BEAUTY ON THE BEACH / JANTZEN | — | $1,680 | Swann Auction Galleries | Aug 2013 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silk Stockings | Lithograph in colors | $688 | Capsule Gallery Auction | Feb 2020 |
| 2 | Cover Girl | Lithograph | $381 | John Moran Auctioneers | Oct 2025 |
| 3 | Something For The Boys! and Behave Yourself!, 1944-1951 | Posters | $292 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2019 |

**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 5 | $5,175 |
| Prints | 12 | $160 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 16 | $227 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 31 results from 13 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Alberto Vargas is an American artist with 129 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $381. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Alberto Vargas sold in 2026 for $16,900, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Alberto Vargas work worth?

Across 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Alberto Vargas work is $381.

The median Alberto Vargas print sells for $160 across 15 lots.

The median Alberto Vargas work on paper sells for $4,088 across 8 lots.

The median Alberto Vargas painting sells for $1,800 across 1 lots.

Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 15 | $160†‡ | $1,680 | — | 2026-03-10 |
| Paintings | 5 | $1,800† | $1,800† | 20% | 2025-11-14 |
| Works on Paper | 10 | $4,088† | $16,900 | 80% | 2026-10-15 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Alberto Vargas's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (15 lots) median $160. Paintings (5 lots) median $1,800, record $1,800. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $1,800 (buyer's premium not included). A typical Alberto Vargas painting sells for around 11× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $128–$231†‡ | $160†‡ | $1,680 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $3,169–$10,805† | $7,322† | $16,900 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $16,900 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $11,250 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $1,800† |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $1,680 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $688 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Alberto Vargas worth?

Across 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Alberto Vargas work is $381. The median Alberto Vargas print sells for $160 across 15 lots. The median Alberto Vargas work on paper sells for $4,088 across 8 lots. The median Alberto Vargas painting sells for $1,800 across 1 lots. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a Alberto Vargas print?

Based on 15 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Alberto Vargas print is $160. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Alberto Vargas's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Alberto Vargas print is $1,680.

### What is the average price of a medium Alberto Vargas print?

Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Alberto Vargas print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $160, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Alberto Vargas's auction record?

Alberto Vargas's auction record is $16,900, set in 2026.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Alberto Vargas auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/alberto-vargas (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.