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

# Ralph Gibson (b. 1939)

## What is Ralph Gibson’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 197 auction results for Ralph Gibson at 30 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $963 including buyer’s premium (middle half $670–$1,554, n=59). The auction record is $20,619 for Untitled (The Somnambulist) (2019, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled (The Somnambulist), 1969 | Silver print | $20,619 | Sotheby's | Nov 2019 |
| 2 | THE SOMNANBULIST, 1969 | Tirage argentique contrecollé | $11,587 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Dec 2015 |
| 3 | Nude with feather from 'Days at Sea'; Woman in bikini, Malibu, 1939 | Gelatin silver prints | $8,165 | Christie's | Nov 2006 |
| 4 | Three studies, 1970s-1980s | — | $6,822 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 5 | Sans titre [Bikers], circa 1990 | Épreuve argentique | $6,051 | Ader | Apr 2025 |
| 6 | Mary Jane, Sardinia, 1939 | Cartes-de-visite | $5,580 | Christie's | Oct 2013 |
| 7 | Waiter, Capri, 1984 | — | $5,174 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| 8 | Mary Jane, Sardinia, 1939 | Gelatin silver print | $5,000 | Bonhams | Oct 2014 |
| 9 | Leda (Nude with feather), 1939 | Pencil | $4,940 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2018 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leda, 1939 | Pencil | $5,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2015 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 18 | $1,537 |
| Photographs | 139 | $1,153 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 8 | $1,826 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 136 | $1,153 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 197 results from 30 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Ralph Gibson is an American artist with 324 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $1,042. 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 Ralph Gibson sold in 2026 for $1,075, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**3 Ralph Gibson works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Ralph Gibson on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ralph-gibson?ref=kg:ralph-gibson) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Ralph Gibson work worth?

Across 196 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ralph Gibson work is $1,042.

The median Ralph Gibson photograph sells for $1,061 across 180 lots.

The median Ralph Gibson print sells for $906 across 4 lots.

The median Ralph Gibson work on paper sells for $762 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Ralph Gibson photographs typically sell for $705–$2,272 (the middle half of 154 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 | 5 | $906‡ | $1,062 | 80% | 2024-10-31 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $762 | $762 | — | 2025-06-10 |
| Photography | 213 | $1,061†‡ | $20,619 | 84.5% | 2026-09-12 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 10 | $6,437‡ | $20,619 | — | 2025-04-10 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 154 | $705–$2,272†‡ | $1,018†‡ | $20,619 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $1,675–$5,050‡ | $2,794‡ | $7,073‡ |

† 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 | 2019 | $20,619 |
| Photography | 2015 | $11,587 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $1,062 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $1,062 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $762 |

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 Ralph Gibson worth?

Across 196 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ralph Gibson work is $1,042. The median Ralph Gibson photograph sells for $1,061 across 180 lots. The median Ralph Gibson print sells for $906 across 4 lots. The median Ralph Gibson work on paper sells for $762 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Ralph Gibson photographs typically sell for $705–$2,272 (the middle half of 154 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 Ralph Gibson photograph?

Based on 180 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ralph Gibson photograph is $1,061. 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 Ralph Gibson's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ralph Gibson photograph is $20,619.

### What is the average price of a small Ralph Gibson photograph?

Based on 154 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ralph Gibson photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,018, 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 Ralph Gibson photograph?

Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ralph Gibson photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,794, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ralph Gibson's auction record?

Ralph Gibson's auction record is $20,619, set in 2019.

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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, “Ralph Gibson auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ralph-gibson (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.