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

# Catherine Opie (b. 1961)

## What is Catherine Opie’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 116 auction results for Catherine Opie at 12 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,882 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,703–$8,621, n=24). The auction record is $293,000 for Untitled #7 (Surfers) (2014, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled #7 (Surfers), 2003 | Hand coloring | $293,000 | Phillips | May 2014 |
| 2 | Surfer for One Drop, 2018 | Myrrh | $264,000 | Phillips | Sep 2018 |
| 3 | Untitled #7 (Surfers), 2003 | Chromogenic print | $107,100 | Sotheby's | Apr 2021 |
| 4 | Untitled #6 (Norway Mountain), 2024 | Pigment print | $71,500 | Sotheby's | Sep 2024 |
| 5 | Untitled #10 (Icehouses), 2001 | Hand coloring | $50,800 | Phillips | Oct 2024 |
| 6 | Untitled #3 (from the Large Format Polaroids series), 2000 | Polaroid mounted to Sintra | $35,280 | Rago Arts | Jul 2024 |
| 7 | Untitled #3 (Icehouses), 2001 | Hand coloring | $32,760 | Rago Arts | May 2024 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dyke, 1992 | Chromogenic print | $87,500 | Christie's | Feb 2019 |
| 2 | Untitled #4, 2003 | Chromogenic print | $70,950 | Phillips | Apr 2026 |
| 3 | Untitled #9 (Icehouses), 2001 | Hand coloring | $47,880 | Sotheby's | Sep 2021 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 70 | $8,820 |
| Other | 36 | $4,973 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 26 | $22,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 59 | $5,625 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 23 | $4,063 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 116 results from 12 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Catherine Opie is an American artist with 153 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $6,863. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by Catherine Opie sold in 2026 for $14,190, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Catherine Opie work worth?

Across 115 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Catherine Opie work is $6,863.

The median Catherine Opie photograph sells for $7,530 across 83 lots.

The median Catherine Opie print sells for $6,000 across 27 lots.

The median Catherine Opie sculpture sells for $20,000 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Catherine Opie photographs typically sell for $4,064–$10,160 (the middle half of 45 sold lots).

Large (over 120 cm) Catherine Opie photographs typically sell for $8,759–$48,610 (the middle half of 20 sold lots).

Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 32 | $6,000† | $264,000 | 84.4% | 2026-07-30 |
| Paintings | 1 | $4,410 | $4,410 | — | 2024-10-25 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $20,000 | $20,000 | — | 2017-10-10 |
| Photography | 104 | $7,530† | $293,000 | 79.8% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $136,975 | $293,000 | — | 2024-09-23 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Catherine Opie's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (32 lots) median $6,000 with 84.4% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $4,410, record $4,410. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 6 lots) the median is $136,975.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $2,286–$9,525 | $5,377 | $18,750 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $2,139–$8,255† | $3,000† | $12,500 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 45 | $4,064–$10,160 | $5,715 | $20,160 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $2,540–$8,820† | $4,000† | $166,850 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 20 | $8,759–$48,610 | $25,000 | $293,000 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2014 | $293,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $264,000 |
| Photography | 2011 | $166,850 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $30,240 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $20,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $20,000 |
| Paintings | 2024 | $4,410 |

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 Catherine Opie worth?

Across 115 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Catherine Opie work is $6,863. The median Catherine Opie photograph sells for $7,530 across 83 lots. The median Catherine Opie print sells for $6,000 across 27 lots. The median Catherine Opie sculpture sells for $20,000 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Catherine Opie photographs typically sell for $4,064–$10,160 (the middle half of 45 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Catherine Opie photographs typically sell for $8,759–$48,610 (the middle half of 20 sold lots). Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a Catherine Opie photograph?

Based on 83 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Catherine Opie photograph is $7,530. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Catherine Opie's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Catherine Opie photograph is $293,000.

### What is the average price of a Catherine Opie print?

Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Catherine Opie print is $6,000. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Catherine Opie's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Catherine Opie print is $264,000.

### What is the average price of a small Catherine Opie photograph?

Based on 45 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Catherine Opie photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,715, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is the average price of a large Catherine Opie photograph?

Based on 20 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Catherine Opie photograph (large (over 120 cm)) is $25,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Catherine Opie's auction record?

Catherine Opie's auction record is $293,000, set in 2014.

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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, “Catherine Opie auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/catherine-opie (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.