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

# Ed Ruscha (b. 1937)

## What is Ed Ruscha’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,933 auction results for Ed Ruscha at 48 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,327 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,782–$25,178, n=350). The auction record is $68,260,000 for Standard Station, Ten-Cent Western Being Torn in Half (2024, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Station, Ten-Cent Western Being Torn in Half, 1964 | Oil paint | $68,260,000 | Christie's | Nov 2024 |
| 2 | Hurting the Word Radio #2, 1964 | Oil paint | $52,485,000 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 3 | Securing the Last Letter (Boss), 1964 | Oil paint | $39,400,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |
| 4 | Smash, 1963 | Oil paint | $30,405,000 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 5 | Burning Gas Station, 1966 | Oil paint | $22,260,000 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 6 | Ripe, 1967 | Oil paint | $20,970,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 7 | Cold Beer Beautiful Girls, 1993 | Acrylic paint | $18,823,400 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 8 | Truth, 1973 | Oil paint | $14,785,000 | Christie's | May 2024 |
| 9 | Georges' Flag, 1999 | Oil on canvas | $13,650,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2024 |
| 10 | Mint (Green), 1968 | Oil paint | $12,973,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 213 | $662,500 |
| Works on paper | 308 | $35,280 |
| Other | 295 | $11,250 |
| Photographs | 57 | $8,750 |
| Prints | 950 | $6,096 |
| Sculpture | 7 | $1,524 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 199 | $588,470 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 895 | $12,700 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 623 | $3,750 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,933 results from 48 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Ed Ruscha is an American artist with 2,269 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $8,750. 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 $20,480, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**13 Ed Ruscha works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Ed Ruscha on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ed-ruscha?ref=kg:ed-ruscha) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Ed Ruscha work worth?

Across 1,931 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ed Ruscha work is $8,750.

The median Ed Ruscha print sells for $5,110 across 1,185 lots.

The median Ed Ruscha painting sells for $623,500 across 227 lots.

The median Ed Ruscha work on paper sells for $185,000 across 216 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Ed Ruscha prints typically sell for $3,750–$18,060 (the middle half of 685 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Ed Ruscha prints typically sell for $1,192–$5,625 (the middle half of 431 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 | 1,309 | $5,110†‡ | $554,400 | 90.5% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 248 | $623,500‡ | $68.3M | 91.5% | 2026-10-08 |
| Works on Paper | 240 | $185,000‡ | $3.3M | 90% | 2026-10-08 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 9 | $556,362 | $2.7M | 66.7% | 2024-11-19 |
| Photography | 83 | $4,236†‡ | $200,000 | 89.2% | 2026-07-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 422 | $388,132‡ | $68.3M | — | 2026-10-08 |

† 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 (1,309 lots) median $5,110 with 90.5% sell-through. Paintings (248 lots) median $623,500, record $68,260,000. A typical Ed Ruscha painting sells for around 122× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 422 lots) the median is $388,132.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 431 | $1,192–$5,625†‡ | $2,805†‡ | $277,200 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 685 | $3,750–$18,060†‡ | $8,125†‡ | $554,400 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 40 | $1,756–$11,575‡ | $5,334‡ | $28,380 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 30 | $30,081–$157,153 | $50,956 | $2.1M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 72 | $175,375–$756,125‡ | $310,000‡ | $22.3M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 119 | $623,500–$3.3M | $1.4M | $68.3M |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 58 | $22,500–$183,450 | $60,625 | $3.3M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 126 | $103,225–$393,905‡ | $235,900‡ | $2.5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 25 | $144,020–$422,500 | $283,800 | $2.4M |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $78,931–$2.3M | $556,362 | $2.7M |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 43 | $2,702–$25,262‡ | $4,826‡ | $165,100 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 22 | $2,257–$68,000† | $11,652† | $200,000 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2024 | $68.3M |
| Paintings | 2019 | $52.5M |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $3.3M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $2.7M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2020 | $2.7M |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $2.5M |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $554,400 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $277,200 |

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 1,931 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ed Ruscha work is $8,750. The median Ed Ruscha print sells for $5,110 across 1,185 lots. The median Ed Ruscha painting sells for $623,500 across 227 lots. The median Ed Ruscha work on paper sells for $185,000 across 216 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Ed Ruscha prints typically sell for $3,750–$18,060 (the middle half of 685 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Ed Ruscha prints typically sell for $1,192–$5,625 (the middle half of 431 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 1,185 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ed Ruscha print is $5,110. 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 $554,400.

### What is the average price of a Ed Ruscha painting?

Based on 227 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ed Ruscha painting is $623,500. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ed Ruscha's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ed Ruscha painting is $68,260,000.

### What is the average price of a Ed Ruscha work on paper?

Based on 216 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ed Ruscha work on paper is $185,000. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ed Ruscha's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ed Ruscha work on paper is $3,301,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Ed Ruscha print?

Based on 685 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ed Ruscha print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,125, 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 431 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ed Ruscha print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,805, 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 Ed Ruscha's auction record?

Ed Ruscha's auction record is $68,260,000, set in 2024.

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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.