Jesús Rafael Soto (1923–2005)
What is Jesús Rafael Soto’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 496 auction results for Jesús Rafael Soto at 39 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $6,179 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,833–$114,053, n=66). The auction record is $952,500 for Barroco negro (2023, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barroco negro, 1961 | Paint, wire and burlap on Isorel | $952,500 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 2 | 36 Cuadrados con banda amarilla, 1969 | Painted wood and metal relief | $565,169 | Phillips | Jun 2018 |
| 3 | Azul con Rojo, 1991 | Enamel on wood | $553,065 | Phillips | Jun 2019 |
| 4 | Sans titre (painted wood and wire), 1961 | Painted wood | $534,250 | Sotheby's | May 2021 |
| 5 | Sin título (oil on canvas), 1950-1951 | Oil paint | $472,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |
| 6 | Métal sur le Losange, 1968 | Oil on panel with metal rods and nylon wire | $445,665 | Phillips | Mar 2018 |
| 7 | Untitled (Estructura cinética de elementos geométricos), 1957 | Acrylic on Plexiglas and wood | $441,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2020 |
| 8 | Plans virtuels bleu et noir | Metal rods and nylon threads on painted panel | $432,987 | Sotheby's | Feb 2010 |
| 9 | Mural a Tres Columnas, 1969 | Mural | $410,500 | Wright | Apr 2012 |
| 10 | Blanco al centro, 1986 | Painted wood | $381,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 30 | $174,960 |
| Other | 102 | $114,724 |
| Sculpture | 55 | $57,600 |
| Prints | 163 | $5,324 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 51 | $262,000 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 160 | $10,648 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 110 | $8,125 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 496 results from 39 houses · How we compute these figures
Jesús Rafael Soto is a Venezuelan artist with 586 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $10,000. 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 Jesús Rafael Soto sold in 2026 for $114,616, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
7 Jesús Rafael Soto works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Jesús Rafael Soto free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Jesús Rafael Soto record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jesús Rafael Soto on OpeningBid →What is a Jesús Rafael Soto work worth?
Across 490 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jesús Rafael Soto work is $10,000.
The median Jesús Rafael Soto print sells for $4,795 across 228 lots.
The median Jesús Rafael Soto sculpture sells for $40,000 across 72 lots.
The median Jesús Rafael Soto painting sells for $181,637 across 49 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Jesús Rafael Soto prints typically sell for $1,015–$8,437 (the middle half of 108 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Jesús Rafael Soto prints typically sell for $3,417–$10,058 (the middle half of 99 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 | 244 | $4,795†‡ | $120,000† | 93.4% | 2026-10-17 |
| Paintings | 53 | $181,637‡ | $553,065 | 92.5% | 2025-12-03 |
| Works on Paper | 5 | $10,000† | $278,595 | — | 2026-02-27 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 78 | $40,000†‡ | $565,169 | 92.3% | 2026-10-01 |
| Photography | 1 | $7,151† | $7,151† | — | 2016-06-06 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 119 | $221,000†‡ | $952,500 | — | 2026-10-23 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Jesús Rafael Soto's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (244 lots) median $4,795 with 93.4% sell-through. Paintings (53 lots) median $181,637, record $553,065. A typical Jesús Rafael Soto painting sells for around 38× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 119 lots) the median is $221,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 99 | $3,417–$10,058†‡ | $7,101†‡ | $23,750 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 108 | $1,015–$8,437† | $3,014† | $120,000† |
† 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) | 7 | $42,975–$178,876‡ | $94,500‡ | $194,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 25 | $68,500–$228,600 | $152,641 | $472,500 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 17 | $178,808–$280,000‡ | $247,412‡ | $553,065 |
‡ 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) | 22 | $7,515–$31,121‡ | $20,814‡ | $273,173 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 27 | $13,939–$194,679†‡ | $52,500†‡ | $534,250 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 16 | $197,228–$269,749 | $225,065 | $565,169 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $565,169 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $553,065 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $534,250 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $472,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $278,595 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $120,000† |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $60,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $20,480 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Jesús Rafael Soto worth?
Across 490 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jesús Rafael Soto work is $10,000. The median Jesús Rafael Soto print sells for $4,795 across 228 lots. The median Jesús Rafael Soto sculpture sells for $40,000 across 72 lots. The median Jesús Rafael Soto painting sells for $181,637 across 49 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Jesús Rafael Soto prints typically sell for $1,015–$8,437 (the middle half of 108 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Jesús Rafael Soto prints typically sell for $3,417–$10,058 (the middle half of 99 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 Jesús Rafael Soto print?
Based on 228 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jesús Rafael Soto print is $4,795. 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 Jesús Rafael Soto's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jesús Rafael Soto print is $120,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $120,000 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a Jesús Rafael Soto sculpture?
Based on 72 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jesús Rafael Soto sculpture is $40,000. 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 Jesús Rafael Soto's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jesús Rafael Soto sculpture is $565,169.
What is the average price of a Jesús Rafael Soto painting?
Based on 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jesús Rafael Soto painting is $181,637. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Jesús Rafael Soto's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jesús Rafael Soto painting is $553,065.
What is the average price of a medium Jesús Rafael Soto print?
Based on 108 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jesús Rafael Soto print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,014, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a small Jesús Rafael Soto print?
Based on 99 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Jesús Rafael Soto print (small (under 50 cm)) is $7,101, 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 Jesús Rafael Soto's auction record?
Jesús Rafael Soto's auction record is $952,500, set in 2023.
See the full Jesús Rafael Soto record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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