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

# Richard Diebenkorn (1922–1993)

Richard Diebenkorn is an American artist with 193 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $9,681. 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 Richard Diebenkorn sold in 2026 for $44,804, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Richard Diebenkorn work worth?

Across 176 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Richard Diebenkorn work is $9,681.

The median Richard Diebenkorn print sells for $8,998 across 156 lots.

The median Richard Diebenkorn work on paper sells for $156,455 across 17 lots.

The median Richard Diebenkorn painting sells for $4,934,068 across 2 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Richard Diebenkorn prints typically sell for $4,923–$65,858 (the middle half of 85 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Richard Diebenkorn prints typically sell for $2,775–$9,067 (the middle half of 51 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 | 167 | $8,998†‡ | $696,126 | 93.4% | 2026-04-14 |
| Paintings | 2 | $4.9M | $9M | — | 2020-06-29 |
| Works on Paper | 18 | $156,455 | $1M | 94.4% | 2020-10-02 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 28 | $197,099 | $9M | — | 2026-04-14 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Richard Diebenkorn's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (167 lots) median $8,998 with 93.4% sell-through. Paintings (2 lots) median $4,934,068, record $9,034,300. A typical Richard Diebenkorn painting sells for around 548× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 28 lots) the median is $197,099.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 51 | $2,775–$9,067 | $4,000 | $51,660 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 85 | $4,923–$65,858†‡ | $13,674†‡ | $696,126 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $24,979–$174,527 | $100,842 | $1M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $291,493–$727,632 | $584,473 | $963,441 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2020 | $9M |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $1M |
| Works on Paper | 2009 | $963,441 |
| Paintings | 2006 | $833,837 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $696,126 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $525,910 |

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 Richard Diebenkorn worth?

Across 176 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Richard Diebenkorn work is $9,681. The median Richard Diebenkorn print sells for $8,998 across 156 lots. The median Richard Diebenkorn work on paper sells for $156,455 across 17 lots. The median Richard Diebenkorn painting sells for $4,934,068 across 2 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Richard Diebenkorn prints typically sell for $4,923–$65,858 (the middle half of 85 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Richard Diebenkorn prints typically sell for $2,775–$9,067 (the middle half of 51 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 Richard Diebenkorn print?

Based on 156 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Diebenkorn print is $8,998. 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 Richard Diebenkorn's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Diebenkorn print is $696,126.

### What is the average price of a Richard Diebenkorn work on paper?

Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Diebenkorn work on paper is $156,455.

### What is Richard Diebenkorn's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Diebenkorn work on paper is $1,000,302.

### What is the average price of a medium Richard Diebenkorn print?

Based on 85 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Richard Diebenkorn print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $13,674, 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 small Richard Diebenkorn print?

Based on 51 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Richard Diebenkorn print (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Richard Diebenkorn's auction record?

Richard Diebenkorn's auction record is $9,034,300, set in 2020.

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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, “Richard Diebenkorn auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/richard-diebenkorn (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.