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

# Ray Johnson (1927–1995)

## What is Ray Johnson’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 141 auction results for Ray Johnson at 14 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $4,015 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,692–$6,031, n=10). The auction record is $87,260 for Comb (2004, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comb, 1966 | Oil and board collage on board | $87,260 | Christie's | Nov 2004 |
| 2 | Birds, 1960 | Oil and found paper collage on canvasboard | $80,371 | Christie's | Nov 2004 |
| 3 | Totem, 1965 | Acrylic, pastel and found paper collage on board | $59,704 | Christie's | Nov 2004 |
| 4 | Mary Crehan, 1972 | Mixed media and wood collage on pressed cardboard | $42,924 | Il Ponte Casa d'Aste | May 2021 |
| 5 | Untitled with Wall, 1966 | Oil, ink and board collage on board | $32,148 | Christie's | Nov 2004 |
| 6 | Untitled (Moticos with Kafkaylla) and Untitled (Moticos with legs and letters), 1953 | Gouache | $30,000 | Christie's | Nov 2009 |
| 7 | Untitled (Moticos with golfer) and Untitled (Moticos with bird and shoe), 1953 | Printed paper and paper collage on shaped paper board | $30,000 | Christie's | Nov 2009 |
| 8 | Untitled (Andy with Cows), 1976 | Mixed media collage with ink in colors, on illustration board, the full sheet | $25,000 | Phillips | Apr 2015 |
| 9 | Untitled (Moticos with Silent Film Star), 1953 | Gouache, pastel and printed paper collage on corrugated board | $25,000 | Christie's | Nov 2012 |
| 10 | The Ice Falls on His Head, 1965 | Gouache, ink, printed paper and paper collage on board | $23,750 | Christie's | Mar 2018 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 35 | $5,000 |
| Photographs | 6 | $3,714 |
| Works on paper | 80 | $3,000 |
| Prints | 8 | $1,761 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 14 | $18,999 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 114 | $3,000 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 141 results from 14 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Ray Johnson is an American artist with 184 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $3,667. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by Ray Johnson sold in 2026 for $19,200, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Ray Johnson work worth?

Across 141 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ray Johnson work is $3,667.

The median Ray Johnson work on paper sells for $3,000 across 78 lots.

The median Ray Johnson print sells for $1,250 across 17 lots.

The median Ray Johnson photograph sells for $2,741 across 5 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Ray Johnson work on papers typically sell for $1,094–$6,540 (the middle half of 64 sold lots).

Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 19 | $1,250 | $15,000 | 89.5% | 2026-03-25 |
| Paintings | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | — | 2010-09-22 |
| Works on Paper | 105 | $3,000† | $87,260 | 74.3% | 2026-06-22 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $2,893 | $2,893 | — | 2021-02-18 |
| Photography | 5 | $2,741 | $16,748 | — | 2024-02-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $42,924 | $87,260 | — | 2021-05-25 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Ray Johnson's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (19 lots) median $1,250 with 89.5% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $2,500, record $2,500. A typical Ray Johnson painting sells for around 2.0× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $42,924.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $600–$2,594 | $1,226 | $9,375 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 64 | $1,094–$6,540† | $2,625† | $18,900 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $11,818–$51,314 | $23,750 | $87,260 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2004 | $87,260 |
| Works on Paper | 2004 | $80,371 |
| Photography | 2021 | $16,748 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $15,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $9,375 |
| Photography | 2018 | $7,094 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $2,893 |
| Paintings | 2010 | $2,500 |

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 Ray Johnson worth?

Across 141 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ray Johnson work is $3,667. The median Ray Johnson work on paper sells for $3,000 across 78 lots. The median Ray Johnson print sells for $1,250 across 17 lots. The median Ray Johnson photograph sells for $2,741 across 5 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Ray Johnson work on papers typically sell for $1,094–$6,540 (the middle half of 64 sold lots). Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a Ray Johnson work on paper?

Based on 78 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ray Johnson work on paper is $3,000. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Ray Johnson's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ray Johnson work on paper is $87,260.

### What is the average price of a Ray Johnson print?

Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ray Johnson print is $1,250.

### What is Ray Johnson's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ray Johnson print is $15,000.

### What is the average price of a small Ray Johnson work on paper?

Based on 64 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ray Johnson work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,625, 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 Ray Johnson print?

Based on 14 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ray Johnson print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,226, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Ray Johnson's auction record?

Ray Johnson's auction record is $87,260, set in 2004.

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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, “Ray Johnson auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ray-johnson (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.