Ed Ruscha (b. 1937)
Ed Ruscha is an American artist with 293 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $14,075. 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 Ed Ruscha sold in 2026 for $215,404, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Ed Ruscha record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ed Ruscha on OpeningBid →What is a Ed Ruscha work worth?
Across 274 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ed Ruscha work is $14,075.
The median Ed Ruscha print sells for $9,185 across 182 lots.
The median Ed Ruscha work on paper sells for $275,000 across 35 lots.
The median Ed Ruscha painting sells for $352,462 across 26 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Ed Ruscha prints typically sell for $5,039–$33,109 (the middle half of 128 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Ed Ruscha prints typically sell for $4,509–$20,000 (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 | 188 | $9,185†‡ | $433,012 | 96.8% | 2026-05-28 |
| Paintings | 29 | $352,462 | $3.4M | 89.7% | 2021-04-19 |
| Works on Paper | 35 | $275,000 | $1.2M | — | 2026-05-21 |
| Photography | 11 | $10,224‡ | $175,645 | 90.9% | 2023-03-09 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 66 | $308,866 | $3.4M | — | 2026-04-14 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Ed Ruscha's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (188 lots) median $9,185 with 96.8% sell-through. Paintings (29 lots) median $352,462, record $3,408,000. A typical Ed Ruscha painting sells for around 38× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 66 lots) the median is $308,866.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 24 | $4,509–$20,000† | $7,854† | $64,959 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 128 | $5,039–$33,109†‡ | $9,886†‡ | $433,012 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $4,886–$9,408 | $6,906 | $33,579 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $204,870–$666,948 | $352,462 | $1.3M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $281,187–$2.3M | $1.4M | $3.4M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 15 | $107,931–$356,437 | $262,500 | $711,524 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $158,444–$383,023 | $229,441 | $1.1M |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2020 | $3.4M |
| Paintings | 2008 | $3.1M |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $1.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $1.1M |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $433,012 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $399,000 |
| Photography | 2007 | $175,645 |
| Photography | 2003 | $116,168 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Ed Ruscha worth?
Across 274 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ed Ruscha work is $14,075. The median Ed Ruscha print sells for $9,185 across 182 lots. The median Ed Ruscha work on paper sells for $275,000 across 35 lots. The median Ed Ruscha painting sells for $352,462 across 26 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Ed Ruscha prints typically sell for $5,039–$33,109 (the middle half of 128 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Ed Ruscha prints typically sell for $4,509–$20,000 (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 Ed Ruscha print?
Based on 182 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ed Ruscha print is $9,185. 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 Ed Ruscha's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Ed Ruscha print is $433,012.
What is the average price of a Ed Ruscha work on paper?
Based on 35 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ed Ruscha work on paper is $275,000.
What is Ed Ruscha's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Ed Ruscha work on paper is $1,203,000.
What is the average price of a Ed Ruscha painting?
Based on 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ed Ruscha painting is $352,462.
What is Ed Ruscha's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Ed Ruscha painting is $3,408,000.
What is the average price of a medium Ed Ruscha print?
Based on 128 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ed Ruscha print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $9,886, 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 small Ed Ruscha print?
Based on 24 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ed Ruscha print (small (under 50 cm)) is $7,854, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Ed Ruscha's auction record?
Ed Ruscha's auction record is $3,408,000, set in 2020.
See the full Ed Ruscha record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ed Ruscha on OpeningBid →