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

# Edward Ruscha (b. 1937)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 386 auction results for Edward Ruscha at 33 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,256 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,137–$6,760, n=7). The auction record is $1,505,000 for If, If (2016, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | If, If, 1996 | Acrylic paint | $1,505,000 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 2 | Amphetamines, Marble, 1969 | Marble | $1,332,500 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 3 | Hell, Heaven, 1989 | Acrylic paint | $1,010,500 | Christie's | May 2009 |
| 4 | Sin, 1967 | Ink | $962,500 | Christie's | Nov 2012 |
| 5 | Texas Hairspray, 1992 | Acrylic paint | $722,500 | Christie's | May 2010 |
| 6 | City Boy, 1990 | Acrylic paint | $518,731 | Christie's | Mar 2019 |
| 7 | Old Sign, 1989 | Acrylic paint | $408,489 | Christie's | Mar 2019 |
| 8 | Señorita, 1989 | Oil paint | $395,540 | Christie's | Jul 2014 |
| 9 | Yes, 1986 | Acrylic paint | $386,500 | Christie's | Nov 2012 |
| 10 | I'm Out to Lunch without my Sugar Bunch, 1980 | Carrot juice on paper mounted on foamcore | $250,000 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 9 | $518,731 |
| Works on paper | 14 | $43,165 |
| Prints | 213 | $5,250 |
| Other | 55 | $1,100 |
| Photographs | 34 | $1,010 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 14 | $18,738 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 165 | $6,048 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 80 | $5,887 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 386 results from 33 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Edward Ruscha is an American artist with 443 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $4,160. 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 Edward Ruscha sold in 2025 for $8,734, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Edward Ruscha work worth?

Across 380 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Edward Ruscha work is $4,160.

The median Edward Ruscha print sells for $4,645 across 259 lots.

The median Edward Ruscha photograph sells for $650 across 58 lots.

The median Edward Ruscha work on paper sells for $60,660 across 18 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Edward Ruscha prints typically sell for $2,049–$10,000 (the middle half of 170 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Edward Ruscha prints typically sell for $2,406–$8,582 (the middle half of 62 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 | 301 | $4,645†‡ | $194,000 | 86% | 2026-03-31 |
| Paintings | 9 | $395,540 | $1.5M | — | 2019-03-07 |
| Works on Paper | 20 | $60,660† | $962,500 | 90% | 2022-09-30 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $1.3M | $1.3M | — | 2017-11-15 |
| Photography | 68 | $650‡ | $179,000 | 85.3% | 2024-04-05 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 24 | $176,182†‡ | $1.5M | — | 2023-10-17 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Edward Ruscha's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (301 lots) median $4,645 with 86% sell-through. Paintings (9 lots) median $395,540, record $1,505,000. A typical Edward Ruscha painting sells for around 85× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 24 lots) the median is $176,182.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 62 | $2,406–$8,582‡ | $5,000‡ | $106,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 170 | $2,049–$10,000†‡ | $4,673†‡ | $194,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $2,969–$6,975‡ | $3,958‡ | $17,500 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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) | 6 | $7,781–$51,255 | $20,000 | $114,836 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $43,750–$250,000 | $146,819 | $962,500 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $2,177–$10,240‡ | $4,933‡ | $91,076 |

‡ 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 | 2016 | $1.5M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $1.3M |
| Paintings | 2009 | $1M |
| Works on Paper | 2012 | $962,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $518,731 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $194,000 |
| Photography | 2013 | $179,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $107,100 |

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 Edward Ruscha worth?

Across 380 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Edward Ruscha work is $4,160. The median Edward Ruscha print sells for $4,645 across 259 lots. The median Edward Ruscha photograph sells for $650 across 58 lots. The median Edward Ruscha work on paper sells for $60,660 across 18 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Edward Ruscha prints typically sell for $2,049–$10,000 (the middle half of 170 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Edward Ruscha prints typically sell for $2,406–$8,582 (the middle half of 62 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 Edward Ruscha print?

Based on 259 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Edward Ruscha print is $4,645. 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 Edward Ruscha's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Edward Ruscha print is $194,000.

### What is the average price of a Edward Ruscha photograph?

Based on 58 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Edward Ruscha photograph is $650. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Edward Ruscha's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Edward Ruscha photograph is $179,000.

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

Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Edward Ruscha work on paper is $60,660. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

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

The highest price recorded at auction for a Edward Ruscha work on paper is $962,500.

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

Based on 170 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Edward Ruscha print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,673, 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 Edward Ruscha print?

Based on 62 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Edward Ruscha print (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Edward Ruscha's auction record?

Edward Ruscha's auction record is $1,505,000, set in 2016.

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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, “Edward Ruscha auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/edward-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.