Jean-Paul Riopelle (1923–2002)
What is Jean-Paul Riopelle’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 479 auction results for Jean-Paul Riopelle at 33 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $19,675 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,220–$75,894, n=35). The auction record is $5,784,295 for Sans titre (huile sur toile) (2017, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sans titre (huile sur toile), 1953 | Huile sur toile | $5,784,295 | Christie's | Dec 2017 |
| 2 | Forestine, 1953 | Oil on canvas | $4,914,351 | Sotheby's | Dec 2018 |
| 3 | La Forêt (The Forest), 1953 | Oil paint | $3,164,049 | Christie's | Mar 2026 |
| 4 | Saint-Anthon, 1954 | Oil paint | $3,138,512 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 5 | Composition ciérrée, 1951 | Oil paint | $2,920,838 | Sotheby's | Dec 2023 |
| 6 | La Forêt | Huile sur toile | $2,235,655 | Sotheby's | Dec 2015 |
| 7 | Untitled | Oil on canvas | $1,783,186 | Sotheby's | Dec 2017 |
| 8 | Sans titre (huile sur toile), 1950 | Huile sur toile | $1,715,625 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 9 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1954 | Oil paint | $1,710,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 10 | Sans titre (huile sur toile), 1951 | Huile sur toile | $1,483,448 | Christie's | Jun 2017 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 200 | $153,301 |
| Other | 28 | $58,403 |
| Works on paper | 18 | $19,037 |
| Prints | 79 | $1,583 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 46 | $361,030 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 175 | $62,039 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 51 | $27,398 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 479 results from 33 houses · How we compute these figures
Jean-Paul Riopelle is a Canadian artist with 568 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $33,002. 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 Jean-Paul Riopelle sold in 2026 for $279,300, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
4 Jean-Paul Riopelle works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Jean-Paul Riopelle free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Jean-Paul Riopelle record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jean-Paul Riopelle on OpeningBid →What is a Jean-Paul Riopelle work worth?
Across 476 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean-Paul Riopelle work is $33,002.
The median Jean-Paul Riopelle painting sells for $163,442 across 193 lots.
The median Jean-Paul Riopelle print sells for $1,634 across 178 lots.
The median Jean-Paul Riopelle work on paper sells for $20,118 across 34 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Jean-Paul Riopelle paintings typically sell for $87,314–$257,245 (the middle half of 95 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Jean-Paul Riopelle prints typically sell for $1,054–$2,368 (the middle half of 80 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 | 186 | $1,634†‡ | $139,269 | 95.7% | 2026-10-28 |
| Paintings | 206 | $163,442†‡ | $5.8M | 93.7% | 2026-07-07 |
| Works on Paper | 37 | $20,118† | $4.9M | 91.9% | 2026-09-22 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 3 | $61,710 | $62,269 | — | 2023-02-15 |
| Photography | 1 | $780,608 | $780,608 | — | 2016-12-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 154 | $223,868‡ | $5.8M | — | 2026-10-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Jean-Paul Riopelle's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (186 lots) median $1,634 with 95.7% sell-through. Paintings (206 lots) median $163,442, record $5,784,295. A typical Jean-Paul Riopelle painting sells for around 100× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 154 lots) the median is $223,868.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $425–$2,162†‡ | $1,874†‡ | $4,792 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 80 | $1,054–$2,368†‡ | $1,404†‡ | $139,269 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 30 | $24,477–$91,601†‡ | $53,525†‡ | $860,923 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 95 | $87,314–$257,245‡ | $144,311‡ | $1.7M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 37 | $220,500–$963,619‡ | $394,328‡ | $5.8M |
† 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) | 7 | $18,398–$27,517 | $22,724 | $28,680 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $9,191–$46,165 | $13,860 | $62,039 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2017 | $5.8M |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $4.9M |
| Paintings | 2026 | $3.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $886,568 |
| Photography | 2016 | $780,608 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $139,269 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $128,556 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $62,269 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Jean-Paul Riopelle worth?
Across 476 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean-Paul Riopelle work is $33,002. The median Jean-Paul Riopelle painting sells for $163,442 across 193 lots. The median Jean-Paul Riopelle print sells for $1,634 across 178 lots. The median Jean-Paul Riopelle work on paper sells for $20,118 across 34 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Jean-Paul Riopelle paintings typically sell for $87,314–$257,245 (the middle half of 95 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Jean-Paul Riopelle prints typically sell for $1,054–$2,368 (the middle half of 80 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 Jean-Paul Riopelle painting?
Based on 193 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean-Paul Riopelle painting is $163,442. 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 Jean-Paul Riopelle's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean-Paul Riopelle painting is $5,784,295.
What is the average price of a Jean-Paul Riopelle print?
Based on 178 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean-Paul Riopelle print is $1,634. 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 Jean-Paul Riopelle's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean-Paul Riopelle print is $139,269.
What is the average price of a Jean-Paul Riopelle work on paper?
Based on 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean-Paul Riopelle work on paper is $20,118. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Jean-Paul Riopelle's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean-Paul Riopelle work on paper is $4,914,351.
What is the average price of a medium Jean-Paul Riopelle painting?
Based on 95 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jean-Paul Riopelle painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $144,311, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a medium Jean-Paul Riopelle print?
Based on 80 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jean-Paul Riopelle print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,404, 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 Jean-Paul Riopelle's auction record?
Jean-Paul Riopelle's auction record is $5,784,295, set in 2017.
See the full Jean-Paul Riopelle record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jean-Paul Riopelle on OpeningBid →