Charles Ray (b. 1953)
What is Charles Ray’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 46 auction results for Charles Ray at 13 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $85,000 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,135–$184,000, n=7). The auction record is $2,206,000 for Male Mannequin (2000, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Male Mannequin, 1990 | Mannequin, fiberglass | $2,206,000 | Christie's | Nov 2000 |
| 2 | Revolution Counter Revolution, 1990 | Sculpture | $2,100,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 3 | Boy, 1992 | Stainless steel | $886,000 | Christie's | May 2000 |
| 4 | Untitled (Glass Chair), 1976 | Glass | $669,500 | Christie's | May 2002 |
| 5 | Ink Drawing, 1988 | Ink Drawing | $665,600 | Christie's | May 2006 |
| 6 | Ink Drawing, 1988 | Ink Drawing | $376,500 | Christie's | May 1999 |
| 7 | Hand Holding Egg, 2007 | Porcelain | $340,200 | Christie's | May 2025 |
| 8 | Study for Jennifer's Portrait, 2000 | Graphite | $284,800 | Christie's | May 2005 |
| 9 | Plank Piece I-II, 1973 | Two gelatin silver prints mounted on rag board in plastic frames | $271,430 | Christie's | Oct 2005 |
| 10 | Study for Sleeping Mime, 2012 | Aluminum | $254,000 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 17 | $147,750 |
| Works on paper | 9 | $114,000 |
| Other | 6 | $1,308 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $310,125 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $136,375 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 9 | $114,000 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 46 results from 13 houses · How we compute these figures
Charles Ray is an American artist with 53 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $107,400. 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 Charles Ray sold in 2025 for $254,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Charles Ray record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Charles Ray on OpeningBid →What is a Charles Ray work worth?
Across 46 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Charles Ray work is $107,400.
The median Charles Ray photograph sells for $133,250 across 22 lots.
The median Charles Ray work on paper sells for $199,400 across 6 lots.
The median Charles Ray print sells for $882 across 4 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 | 5 | $882 | $1,713 | 80% | 2025-08-15 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $199,400 | $665,600 | — | 2024-11-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 3 | $886,000 | $2.1M | — | 2025-11-20 |
| Photography | 26 | $133,250†‡ | $271,430 | 84.6% | 2025-11-20 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 25 | $229,000 | $2.2M | — | 2025-11-20 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $1,514–$170,100†‡ | $100,800†‡ | $197,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $1,397–$168,000 | $141,500 | $271,430 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $2.1M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2000 | $886,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $665,600 |
| Works on Paper | 1999 | $376,500 |
| Photography | 2005 | $271,430 |
| Photography | 2013 | $243,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $1,713 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $1,482 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Charles Ray worth?
Across 46 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Charles Ray work is $107,400. The median Charles Ray photograph sells for $133,250 across 22 lots. The median Charles Ray work on paper sells for $199,400 across 6 lots. The median Charles Ray print sells for $882 across 4 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 Charles Ray photograph?
Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Charles Ray photograph is $133,250. 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 Charles Ray's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Charles Ray photograph is $271,430.
What is the average price of a small Charles Ray photograph?
Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Charles Ray photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $100,800, 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 Charles Ray's auction record?
Charles Ray's auction record is $2,206,000, set in 2000.
See the full Charles Ray record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Charles Ray on OpeningBid →