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

# Charles Ray (b. 1953)

## What is Charles Ray’s work worth? {#value}

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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 17 | $147,750 |
| Works on paper | 9 | $114,000 |
| Other | 6 | $1,308 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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, “Charles Ray auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/charles-ray (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.