Mark Rothko (1903–1970)
What is Mark Rothko’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 133 auction results for Mark Rothko at 14 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $8,865,000 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,756,000–$23,722,674, n=16). The auction record is $86,882,500 for Orange, Red, Yellow (2012, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orange, Red, Yellow, 1961 | Oil paint | $86,882,500 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| 2 | Brown and Blacks in Reds, 1957 | Oil on canvas | $85,780,000 | Sotheby's | May 2026 |
| 3 | No. 10, oil on canvas, 1958 | Oil paint | $81,925,000 | Christie's | May 2015 |
| 4 | White Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose), 1950 | Oil on canvas | $72,840,000 | Sotheby's | May 2007 |
| 5 | Untitled (Shades of Red), 1961 | Oil paint | $66,800,000 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 6 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1952 | Oil paint | $66,245,000 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| 7 | MARK ROTHKO (1903-1970), 1958 | Oil paint | $62,160,000 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| 8 | Untitled (Red, Blue, Orange) | Oil paint | $56,165,000 | Phillips | May 2014 |
| 9 | No. 15, oil on canvas, 1952 | Oil paint | $50,441,000 | Christie's | May 2008 |
| 10 | No. 1, oil on canvas, 1962 | Oil paint | $49,625,000 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 96 | $6,602,435 |
| Other | 15 | $4,170,500 |
| Works on paper | 6 | $109,808 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 62 | $19,683,750 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 44 | $2,582,500 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 133 results from 14 houses · How we compute these figures
Mark Rothko is an American artist with 144 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $4,858,250. 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 Mark Rothko sold in 2026 for $11,871,045, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
3 Mark Rothko works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Mark Rothko free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Mark Rothko record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Mark Rothko on OpeningBid →What is a Mark Rothko work worth?
Across 128 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mark Rothko work is $4,858,250.
The median Mark Rothko painting sells for $11,282,022 across 70 lots.
The median Mark Rothko work on paper sells for $3,189,000 across 40 lots.
The median Mark Rothko print sells for $258 across 8 lots.
Large (over 120 cm) Mark Rothko paintings typically sell for $7,496,625–$37,266,875 (the middle half of 54 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Mark Rothko work on papers typically sell for $1,197,500–$4,611,125 (the middle half of 30 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 | 13 | $258†‡ | $1,060 | 61.5% | 2023-09-05 |
| Paintings | 72 | $11.3M | $86.9M | 97.2% | 2026-06-24 |
| Works on Paper | 41 | $3.2M | $17.6M | 97.6% | 2026-03-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 116 | $5.5M | $86.9M | — | 2026-06-24 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Mark Rothko's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (13 lots) median $258 with 61.5% sell-through. Paintings (72 lots) median $11,282,022, record $86,882,500. A typical Mark Rothko painting sells for around 43,759× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 116 lots) the median is $5,545,200.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $240–$269†‡ | $258†‡ | $1,060 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $720,000–$4.9M | $1.9M | $23.9M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 54 | $7.5M–$37.3M | $21.8M | $86.9M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 30 | $1.2M–$4.6M | $2.8M | $8.5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $3.8M–$11.1M | $4.2M | $17.6M |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2012 | $86.9M |
| Paintings | 2026 | $85.8M |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $17.6M |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $11.2M |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $1,060 |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $269‡ |
‡ 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 Mark Rothko worth?
Across 128 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mark Rothko work is $4,858,250. The median Mark Rothko painting sells for $11,282,022 across 70 lots. The median Mark Rothko work on paper sells for $3,189,000 across 40 lots. The median Mark Rothko print sells for $258 across 8 lots. Large (over 120 cm) Mark Rothko paintings typically sell for $7,496,625–$37,266,875 (the middle half of 54 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Mark Rothko work on papers typically sell for $1,197,500–$4,611,125 (the middle half of 30 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 Mark Rothko painting?
Based on 70 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mark Rothko painting is $11,282,022.
What is Mark Rothko's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Mark Rothko painting is $86,882,500.
What is the average price of a Mark Rothko work on paper?
Based on 40 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mark Rothko work on paper is $3,189,000.
What is Mark Rothko's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Mark Rothko work on paper is $17,565,000.
What is the average price of a Mark Rothko print?
Based on 8 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mark Rothko print is $258. 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 Mark Rothko's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Mark Rothko print is $1,060.
What is the average price of a large Mark Rothko painting?
Based on 54 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Mark Rothko painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $21,764,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is the average price of a medium Mark Rothko work on paper?
Based on 30 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Mark Rothko work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,831,742, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Mark Rothko's auction record?
Mark Rothko's auction record is $86,882,500, set in 2012.
See the full Mark Rothko record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Mark Rothko on OpeningBid →