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

# Richard Avedon (1923–2004)

Richard Avedon is an American artist with 339 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $625. 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 Richard Avedon sold in 2026 for $1,778, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Richard Avedon work worth?

Across 276 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Richard Avedon work is $625.

The median Richard Avedon photograph sells for $838 across 211 lots.

The median Richard Avedon print sells for $552 across 29 lots.

The median Richard Avedon work on paper sells for $7,039 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Richard Avedon photographs typically sell for $2,538–$31,717 (the middle half of 70 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Richard Avedon prints typically sell for $378–$1,125 (the middle half of 24 sold 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 | 34 | $552†‡ | $814,942 | 85.3% | 2026-07-31 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $7,039 | $7,039 | — | 2017-09-27 |
| Photography | 229 | $838†‡ | $460,864 | 92.1% | 2026-04-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 14 | $129,348 | $814,942 | — | 2020-10-14 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 24 | $378–$1,125†‡ | $564†‡ | $814,942 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 70 | $2,538–$31,717†‡ | $10,516†‡ | $110,044 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 19 | $12,303–$102,180 | $36,105 | $179,718 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 15 | $1,550–$58,975 | $2,800 | $460,864 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2005 | $814,942 |
| Photography | 2005 | $460,864 |
| Photography | 2005 | $316,141 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $24,444† |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $7,039 |

† 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 Richard Avedon worth?

Across 276 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Richard Avedon work is $625. The median Richard Avedon photograph sells for $838 across 211 lots. The median Richard Avedon print sells for $552 across 29 lots. The median Richard Avedon work on paper sells for $7,039 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Richard Avedon photographs typically sell for $2,538–$31,717 (the middle half of 70 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Richard Avedon prints typically sell for $378–$1,125 (the middle half of 24 sold 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 Richard Avedon photograph?

Based on 211 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Avedon photograph is $838. 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 Richard Avedon's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Avedon photograph is $460,864.

### What is the average price of a Richard Avedon print?

Based on 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Avedon print is $552. 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 Richard Avedon's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Avedon print is $814,942.

### What is the average price of a small Richard Avedon photograph?

Based on 70 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Richard Avedon photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $10,516, 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 the average price of a medium Richard Avedon print?

Based on 24 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Richard Avedon print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $564, 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 Richard Avedon's auction record?

Richard Avedon's auction record is $814,942, set in 2005.

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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, “Richard Avedon auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/avedon-richard (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.