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Hiroshi Sugimoto (b. 1948)

What is Hiroshi Sugimoto’s work worth?

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,299 auction results for Hiroshi Sugimoto at 45 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $15,480 including buyer’s premium (middle half $4,563–$25,078, n=158). The auction record is $1,888,000 for Black Sea, Ozuluce; Yellow Sea, Cheju; Red Sea, Safaga (2007, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture
#WorkMediumPriceHouseSold
1Black Sea, Ozuluce; Yellow Sea, Cheju; Red Sea, Safaga, 1991-1992Gelatin silver print$1,888,000Christie'sMay 2007
2Black Sea, Ozuluce, 1991Cartes-de-visite$1,285,495Christie'sJun 2008
3English Channel, Weston Cliff, 1994Gelatin silver print in an artist frame$1,026,431Christie'sFeb 2007
4Portraits, 199927 tirages argentiques montés sur supports cartonnés, pièces uniques$648,099Christie'sNov 2013
5The Music Lesson, 1999Myrrh$629,000PhillipsApr 2014
6The Last Supper—$601,000Sotheby'sMay 2008
Top auction records: prints & editions
#WorkMediumPriceHouseSold
1Aegean Sea, Pilion, 1990Cartes-de-visite$1,026,602Christie'sFeb 2008
2North Pacific Ocean, Ohkurosaki, 2000Gelatin silver print in artist frame$910,414Christie'sJun 2007
3Tyrrhenian Sea, Conca, 1994Gelatin silver print in an artist frame$702,492Christie'sOct 2006
4Tyrrhenian Sea, Conca, 1994Gelatin silver print in an artist frame$547,688Christie'sJun 2006
Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
MediumSalesMedian
Photographs712$24,496
Other89$19,703
Prints198$3,500
Works on paper6$2,813
Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
SizeSalesMedian
Large (over 120 cm)97$75,600
Medium (50-120 cm)612$22,500
Small (under 50 cm)209$4,080

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,299 results from 45 houses · How we compute these figures

Hiroshi Sugimoto is a Japanese artist with 1,523 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $18,274. 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 Hiroshi Sugimoto sold in 2026 for $61,446, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

6 Hiroshi Sugimoto works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Hiroshi Sugimoto free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.

See the full Hiroshi Sugimoto record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

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What is a Hiroshi Sugimoto work worth?

Across 1,297 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Hiroshi Sugimoto work is $18,274.

The median Hiroshi Sugimoto photograph sells for $23,675 across 815 lots.

The median Hiroshi Sugimoto print sells for $3,052 across 357 lots.

The median Hiroshi Sugimoto sculpture sells for $23,273 across 21 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Hiroshi Sugimoto photographs typically sell for $15,000–$31,238 (the middle half of 630 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Hiroshi Sugimoto prints typically sell for $1,940–$11,875 (the middle half of 228 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

CategoryLots trackedMedian priceRecord priceSell-throughLast sale
Prints & Editions406$3,052†‡$629,00087.9%2026-10-15
Paintings2$15,863‡$22,652‡—2021-12-01
Works on Paper2$548$548—2021-04-20
Sculpture & Installation22$23,273$362,50095.5%2026-10-08
Photography891$23,675†‡$1.9M91.5%2026-10-17
Masterpieces (top of market)65$233,000$1.9M—2026-10-08

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

Hiroshi Sugimoto's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (406 lots) median $3,052 with 87.9% sell-through. Paintings (2 lots) median $15,863, record $22,652. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical Hiroshi Sugimoto painting sells for around 5.2× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 65 lots) the median is $233,000.

Price by size

Prints & Editions

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)228$1,940–$11,875†‡$4,102†‡$44,713
medium (50–120 cm)101$880–$3,304†‡$1,625†‡$32,668‡
large (over 120 cm)10$26,911–$45,269‡$36,530‡$629,000

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

Sculpture & Installation

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)14$12,822–$27,605$18,679$59,976

Photography

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)48$2,574–$9,068†‡$3,905†‡$68,750
medium (50–120 cm)630$15,000–$31,238†‡$22,680†‡$648,099
large (over 120 cm)90$50,000–$231,900‡$84,375‡$1.9M

† 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

MediumYearPrice
Photography2007$1.9M
Photography2008$1.3M
Prints & Editions2014$629,000
Sculpture & Installation2008$362,500
Sculpture & Installation2012$164,554
Prints & Editions2014$60,000
Paintings2021$22,652‡
Paintings2020$9,075

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

The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Hiroshi Sugimoto worth?

Across 1,297 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Hiroshi Sugimoto work is $18,274. The median Hiroshi Sugimoto photograph sells for $23,675 across 815 lots. The median Hiroshi Sugimoto print sells for $3,052 across 357 lots. The median Hiroshi Sugimoto sculpture sells for $23,273 across 21 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Hiroshi Sugimoto photographs typically sell for $15,000–$31,238 (the middle half of 630 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Hiroshi Sugimoto prints typically sell for $1,940–$11,875 (the middle half of 228 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 Hiroshi Sugimoto photograph?

Based on 815 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Hiroshi Sugimoto photograph is $23,675. 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 Hiroshi Sugimoto's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Hiroshi Sugimoto photograph is $1,888,000.

What is the average price of a Hiroshi Sugimoto print?

Based on 357 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Hiroshi Sugimoto print is $3,052. 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 Hiroshi Sugimoto's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Hiroshi Sugimoto print is $629,000.

What is the average price of a Hiroshi Sugimoto sculpture?

Based on 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Hiroshi Sugimoto sculpture is $23,273.

What is Hiroshi Sugimoto's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Hiroshi Sugimoto sculpture is $362,500.

What is the average price of a medium Hiroshi Sugimoto photograph?

Based on 630 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Hiroshi Sugimoto photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $22,680, 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 Hiroshi Sugimoto print?

Based on 228 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Hiroshi Sugimoto print (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,102, 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 Hiroshi Sugimoto's auction record?

Hiroshi Sugimoto's auction record is $1,888,000, set in 2007.

See the full Hiroshi Sugimoto record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

View Hiroshi Sugimoto on OpeningBid →