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

# Herb Ritts (1952–2002)

## What is Herb Ritts’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 414 auction results for Herb Ritts at 37 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,810 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,304–$6,096, n=57). The auction record is $248,567 for Versace Dress, Back View, El Mirage (2015, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood, 1989, 1952 | Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood, 1989 | $224,140 | Christie's | Jun 2019 |
| 2 | Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood, 1989 | Gelatin silver print | $150,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2018 |
| 3 | Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood | Gelatin silver print, mounted on board | $127,366 | Phillips | Sep 2020 |
| 4 | Versace Dress, Back View, El Mirage, 1990 | Cartes-de-visite | $112,500 | Phillips | Oct 2016 |
| 5 | 'stephanie, cindy, christy, tatjana, naomi, hollywood' | — | $109,000 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Versace Dress, Back View, El Mirage, 1990 | Cartes-de-visite | $248,567 | Phillips | May 2015 |
| 2 | Versace Dress, Back View, El Mirage, 1952 | Tirage argentique, monté sur aluminium | $154,096 | Christie's | Jun 2019 |
| 3 | Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood, 1989 | Gelatin silver print | $120,000 | Sotheby's | Oct 2024 |
| 4 | Versace, Veiled Dress, El Mirage, 1952 | Wool | $119,700 | Christie's | Feb 2024 |
| 5 | Versace, Veiled Dress, El Mirage, 1952 | Signé, titré, daté et numéroté '6/25' au crayon avec cachet de copyright du photographe (montage, verso) | $98,061 | Christie's | Jun 2019 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 324 | $6,287 |
| Other | 30 | $5,750 |
| Prints | 7 | $1,308 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 13 | $25,000 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 71 | $11,778 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 248 | $5,629 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 414 results from 37 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Herb Ritts is an American artist with 536 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $5,625. 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 Herb Ritts sold in 2026 for $11,520, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Herb Ritts work worth?

Across 410 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Herb Ritts work is $5,625.

The median Herb Ritts photograph sells for $5,625 across 382 lots.

The median Herb Ritts print sells for $2,062 across 8 lots.

The median Herb Ritts work on paper sells for $15,339 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Herb Ritts photographs typically sell for $2,952–$8,505 (the middle half of 266 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Herb Ritts photographs typically sell for $3,530–$22,261 (the middle half of 72 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 | 11 | $2,062† | $15,120 | 72.7% | 2025-06-04 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $15,339 | $20,315 | — | 2007-11-13 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $154,096 | $154,096 | — | 2019-06-19 |
| Photography | 431 | $5,625†‡ | $248,567 | 88.6% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 20 | $83,281 | $248,567 | — | 2025-04-03 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 266 | $2,952–$8,505†‡ | $5,218†‡ | $38,100 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 72 | $3,530–$22,261†‡ | $11,596†‡ | $224,140 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $13,202–$58,717 | $27,740 | $248,567 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2015 | $248,567 |
| Photography | 2019 | $224,140 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $154,096 |
| Works on Paper | 2003 | $20,315 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $15,120 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $14,667 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $10,364 |

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 Herb Ritts worth?

Across 410 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Herb Ritts work is $5,625. The median Herb Ritts photograph sells for $5,625 across 382 lots. The median Herb Ritts print sells for $2,062 across 8 lots. The median Herb Ritts work on paper sells for $15,339 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Herb Ritts photographs typically sell for $2,952–$8,505 (the middle half of 266 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Herb Ritts photographs typically sell for $3,530–$22,261 (the middle half of 72 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 Herb Ritts photograph?

Based on 382 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Herb Ritts photograph is $5,625. 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 Herb Ritts's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Herb Ritts photograph is $248,567.

### What is the average price of a Herb Ritts print?

Based on 8 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Herb Ritts print is $2,062. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Herb Ritts's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Herb Ritts print is $15,120.

### What is the average price of a small Herb Ritts photograph?

Based on 266 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Herb Ritts photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,218, 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 Herb Ritts photograph?

Based on 72 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Herb Ritts photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $11,596, 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 Herb Ritts's auction record?

Herb Ritts's auction record is $248,567, set in 2015.

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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, “Herb Ritts auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/herb-ritts (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.