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

# 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.

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

## 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.

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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, “Ed Ruscha auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ed-ruscha (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.