Bill Ray (1936–2020)
Bill Ray is an American artist with 53 auction lots recorded since 2009, median price $1,849. 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 Bill Ray sold in 2024 for $2,158, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Bill Ray record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Bill Ray on OpeningBid →What is a Bill Ray work worth?
Across 37 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bill Ray work is $1,849.
The median Bill Ray photograph sells for $1,849 across 31 lots.
The median Bill Ray print sells for $2,082 across 6 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 | 6 | $2,082 | $4,420 | — | 2022-09-22 |
| Photography | 39 | $1,849†‡ | $5,806 | 79.5% | 2026-04-18 |
† 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) | 6 | $1,900–$3,133 | $2,082 | $4,420 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 15 | $672–$2,050†‡ | $1,275†‡ | $5,806 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $1,546–$2,249‡ | $1,914‡ | $3,884‡ |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2016 | $5,806 |
| Photography | 2019 | $5,425† |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $4,420 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $3,473 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Bill Ray worth?
Across 37 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bill Ray work is $1,849. The median Bill Ray photograph sells for $1,849 across 31 lots. The median Bill Ray print sells for $2,082 across 6 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 Bill Ray photograph?
Based on 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bill Ray photograph is $1,849. 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 Bill Ray's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Bill Ray photograph is $5,806.
What is the average price of a medium Bill Ray photograph?
Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Bill Ray photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,914, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a small Bill Ray photograph?
Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Bill Ray photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,275, 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 Bill Ray's auction record?
Bill Ray's auction record is $5,806, set in 2016.
See the full Bill Ray record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Bill Ray on OpeningBid →