> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jean-paul-riopelle · updated 2026-11-02

# Jean Paul Riopelle (1923–2002)

## What is Jean Paul Riopelle’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 201 auction results for Jean Paul Riopelle at 28 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,967 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,068–$20,646, n=45). The auction record is $5,441,555 for Autriche III (Austria III) (2022, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Autriche III (Austria III), 1954 | Oil paint | $5,441,555 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 2 | La sombreuse (Il y a une couleur qui se promène et des gens cachés dans cette couleur), 1954 | Oil paint | $4,222,835 | Christie's | Dec 2021 |
| 3 | Composition, 1949 | Huile sur toile | $1,768,824 | Christie's | Oct 2021 |
| 4 | Untitled, 1950 | Huile sur toile | $1,669,268 | Christie's | Apr 2026 |
| 5 | Sans titre (huile sur toile), 1953 | Oil paint | $1,501,774 | Christie's | Jun 2022 |
| 6 | Sans titre (huile sur toile), 1953 | Huile sur toile | $1,336,258 | Christie's | Oct 2022 |
| 7 | Sans titre (huile sur toile), 1954 | Huile sur toile | $1,272,962 | Christie's | Jun 2018 |
| 8 | Sans titre (huile sur toile), 1953 | Oil paint | $955,740 | Christie's | Jun 2019 |
| 9 | Sans titre (huile sur toile), 1956 | Oil paint | $879,416 | Christie's | Jun 2021 |
| 10 | Et plus, 1959 | Oil paint | $700,305 | Christie's | Jun 2024 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 55 | $176,619 |
| Works on paper | 9 | $17,394 |
| Other | 7 | $11,551 |
| Prints | 66 | $1,977 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 17 | $345,189 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 89 | $4,943 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 32 | $3,341 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 201 results from 28 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Jean Paul Riopelle is a Canadian artist with 281 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $12,862. 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 $412,810, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**5 Jean Paul Riopelle works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Jean Paul Riopelle on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jean-paul-riopelle-2?ref=kg:jean-paul-riopelle-2) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Jean Paul Riopelle work worth?

Across 199 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean Paul Riopelle work is $12,862.

The median Jean Paul Riopelle print sells for $1,907 across 92 lots.

The median Jean Paul Riopelle painting sells for $165,643 across 80 lots.

The median Jean Paul Riopelle work on paper sells for $15,104 across 14 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Jean Paul Riopelle prints typically sell for $1,078–$2,978 (the middle half of 52 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Jean Paul Riopelle paintings typically sell for $40,243–$285,919 (the middle half of 41 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 | 108 | $1,907†‡ | $13,709 | 85.2% | 2026-10-29 |
| Paintings | 93 | $165,643†‡ | $5.4M | 86% | 2026-04-16 |
| Works on Paper | 15 | $15,104†‡ | $79,340 | 93.3% | 2025-11-26 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 4 | $17,893 | $18,951 | 75% | 2026-04-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 45 | $328,726†‡ | $5.4M | — | 2026-04-16 |

† 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 (108 lots) median $1,907 with 85.2% sell-through. Paintings (93 lots) median $165,643, record $5,441,555. A typical Jean Paul Riopelle painting sells for around 87× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 45 lots) the median is $328,726.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $529–$2,307†‡ | $1,218†‡ | $8,686 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 52 | $1,078–$2,978†‡ | $2,027†‡ | $13,709 |

† 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) | 10 | $35,240–$208,514†‡ | $59,220†‡ | $432,665 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 41 | $40,243–$285,919†‡ | $135,198†‡ | $1.3M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 19 | $185,797–$1.2M† | $345,189† | $5.4M |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $13,747–$20,842‡ | $15,474‡ | $79,340 |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2022 | $5.4M |
| Paintings | 2021 | $4.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $79,340 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $55,383 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2012 | $18,951 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $17,893 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $13,709 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $10,743 |

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 Jean Paul Riopelle worth?

Across 199 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean Paul Riopelle work is $12,862. The median Jean Paul Riopelle print sells for $1,907 across 92 lots. The median Jean Paul Riopelle painting sells for $165,643 across 80 lots. The median Jean Paul Riopelle work on paper sells for $15,104 across 14 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Jean Paul Riopelle prints typically sell for $1,078–$2,978 (the middle half of 52 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Jean Paul Riopelle paintings typically sell for $40,243–$285,919 (the middle half of 41 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 print?

Based on 92 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean Paul Riopelle print is $1,907. 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 $13,709.

### What is the average price of a Jean Paul Riopelle painting?

Based on 80 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean Paul Riopelle painting is $165,643. 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 $5,441,555.

### What is the average price of a Jean Paul Riopelle work on paper?

Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean Paul Riopelle work on paper is $15,104. 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 work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean Paul Riopelle work on paper is $79,340.

### What is the average price of a medium Jean Paul Riopelle print?

Based on 52 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jean Paul Riopelle print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,027, 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 Jean Paul Riopelle painting?

Based on 41 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jean Paul Riopelle painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $135,198, 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 $5,441,555, set in 2022.

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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, “Jean Paul Riopelle auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jean-paul-riopelle (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.