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

# Gordon Parks (1912–2006)

## What is Gordon Parks’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 138 auction results for Gordon Parks at 18 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,588 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,870–$10,000, n=25). The auction record is $114,300 for Segregation Story (2024, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Segregation Story, 2012 | Pleasantville, New York: The Gordon Parks Foundation, 2012. Twelve inkjet prints | $114,300 | Phillips | Apr 2024 |
| 2 | Untitled (Shady Grove, Alabama), 1956 | No prints of this image were made during the photographer's lifetime | $57,150 | Sotheby's | Oct 2025 |
| 3 | American Gothic, Washington D.C., 1942, 1912 | Gelatin silver print, printed later | $38,100 | Christie's | Oct 2025 |
| 4 | Untitled (Self-Portrait), 2006 | Ink | $23,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2021 |
| 5 | American Champion, 2014 | Pleasantville, New York: The Gordon Parks Foundation, 2014. Twelve gelatin silver prints | $22,860 | Phillips | Apr 2025 |
| 6 | Left Bank, Paris, 1912 | Credit, title in pencil, date in ink and 'Photography Annual' credit stamps (on the reverse of the flush-mount) | $22,500 | Christie's | Oct 2013 |
| 7 | Emerging Man, circa 1970 | Gelatin silver print | $17,584 | Ader | Nov 2021 |
| 8 | Emerging Man, Harlem, New York, 1952 | Cartes-de-visite | $16,510 | Phillips | Apr 2023 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Gothic, Washington D.C., 1942 | Cartes-de-visite | $21,420 | Phillips | Oct 2022 |
| 2 | American Gothic, Washington D.C., 1942 | Ink | $18,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2022 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 94 | $5,040 |
| Other | 16 | $4,405 |
| Works on paper | 15 | $4,000 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 103 | $5,000 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 19 | $2,683 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 138 results from 18 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Gordon Parks is an American artist with 199 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $4,327. 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 Gordon Parks sold in 2026 for $13,970, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Gordon Parks work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Gordon Parks on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/gordon-parks?ref=kg:gordon-parks) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Gordon Parks work worth?

Across 137 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Gordon Parks work is $4,327.

The median Gordon Parks photograph sells for $4,327 across 117 lots.

The median Gordon Parks print sells for $4,314 across 14 lots.

The median Gordon Parks painting sells for $900 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Gordon Parks photographs typically sell for $2,881–$9,375 (the middle half of 94 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Gordon Parks photographs typically sell for $1,000–$4,250 (the middle half of 21 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 | 21 | $4,314† | $114,300 | 66.7% | 2026-10-15 |
| Paintings | 1 | $900 | $900 | — | 2007-02-27 |
| Photography | 135 | $4,327†‡ | $57,150 | 86.7% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $23,750 | $114,300 | — | 2025-10-22 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Gordon Parks's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (21 lots) median $4,314 with 66.7% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $900, record $900. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $23,750.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $4,128–$11,430 | $5,715 | $114,300 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 94 | $2,881–$9,375†‡ | $4,800†‡ | $38,100 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 21 | $1,000–$4,250† | $2,131† | $57,150 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $114,300 |
| Photography | 2025 | $57,150 |
| Photography | 2025 | $38,100 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $13,970 |
| Paintings | 2007 | $900 |

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 Gordon Parks worth?

Across 137 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Gordon Parks work is $4,327. The median Gordon Parks photograph sells for $4,327 across 117 lots. The median Gordon Parks print sells for $4,314 across 14 lots. The median Gordon Parks painting sells for $900 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Gordon Parks photographs typically sell for $2,881–$9,375 (the middle half of 94 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Gordon Parks photographs typically sell for $1,000–$4,250 (the middle half of 21 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 Gordon Parks photograph?

Based on 117 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Gordon Parks photograph is $4,327. 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 Gordon Parks's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Gordon Parks photograph is $57,150.

### What is the average price of a Gordon Parks print?

Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Gordon Parks print is $4,314. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Gordon Parks's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Gordon Parks print is $114,300.

### What is the average price of a small Gordon Parks photograph?

Based on 94 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Gordon Parks photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,800, 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 the average price of a medium Gordon Parks photograph?

Based on 21 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Gordon Parks photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,131, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Gordon Parks's auction record?

Gordon Parks's auction record is $114,300, 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, “Gordon Parks auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/gordon-parks (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.