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

# Hiroshi Sugimoto (b. 1948)

## What is Hiroshi Sugimoto’s work worth? {#value}

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**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Sea, Ozuluce; Yellow Sea, Cheju; Red Sea, Safaga, 1991-1992 | Gelatin silver print | $1,888,000 | Christie's | May 2007 |
| 2 | Black Sea, Ozuluce, 1991 | Cartes-de-visite | $1,285,495 | Christie's | Jun 2008 |
| 3 | English Channel, Weston Cliff, 1994 | Gelatin silver print in an artist frame | $1,026,431 | Christie's | Feb 2007 |
| 4 | Portraits, 1999 | 27 tirages argentiques montés sur supports cartonnés, pièces uniques | $648,099 | Christie's | Nov 2013 |
| 5 | The Music Lesson, 1999 | Myrrh | $629,000 | Phillips | Apr 2014 |
| 6 | The Last Supper | — | $601,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aegean Sea, Pilion, 1990 | Cartes-de-visite | $1,026,602 | Christie's | Feb 2008 |
| 2 | North Pacific Ocean, Ohkurosaki, 2000 | Gelatin silver print in artist frame | $910,414 | Christie's | Jun 2007 |
| 3 | Tyrrhenian Sea, Conca, 1994 | Gelatin silver print in an artist frame | $702,492 | Christie's | Oct 2006 |
| 4 | Tyrrhenian Sea, Conca, 1994 | Gelatin silver print in an artist frame | $547,688 | Christie's | Jun 2006 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 712 | $24,496 |
| Other | 89 | $19,703 |
| Prints | 198 | $3,500 |
| Works on paper | 6 | $2,813 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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).

- [Hiroshi Sugimoto on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/hiroshi-sugimoto?ref=kg:hiroshi-sugimoto) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## 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

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 406 | $3,052†‡ | $629,000 | 87.9% | 2026-10-15 |
| Paintings | 2 | $15,863‡ | $22,652‡ | — | 2021-12-01 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $548 | $548 | — | 2021-04-20 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 22 | $23,273 | $362,500 | 95.5% | 2026-10-08 |
| Photography | 891 | $23,675†‡ | $1.9M | 91.5% | 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

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $12,822–$27,605 | $18,679 | $59,976 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2007 | $1.9M |
| Photography | 2008 | $1.3M |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $629,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2008 | $362,500 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2012 | $164,554 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $60,000 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $22,652‡ |
| Paintings | 2020 | $9,075 |

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

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 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.

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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, “Hiroshi Sugimoto auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/hiroshi-sugimoto (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.