Richard Estes (b. 1936)
What is Richard Estes’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 486 auction results for Richard Estes at 35 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,805 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,658–$6,271, n=81). The auction record is $1,284,000 for Gifts of Nature (2023, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts of Nature, 1978 | Oil paint | $1,284,000 | Christie's | Mar 2023 |
| 2 | Jone's Diner, 1979 | Oil paint | $907,200 | Christie's | Nov 2023 |
| 3 | Broadway and 64th, Spring '84, 1984 | Oil paint | $860,000 | Sotheby's | May 2020 |
| 4 | Central Park, Looking North from Belvedere Castle, 1987 | Oil paint | $857,250 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 5 | Sunday on 2nd Avenue, 2003 | Painting | $825,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 6 | Broadway at 70th Street, 1985 | Oil paint | $819,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 7 | Pont du Carousel, 1984 | Oil paint | $756,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 8 | East River, 1994 | Oil paint | $693,000 | Christie's | Feb 2025 |
| 9 | Sunday on 2nd avenue | Oil on canvas | $553,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 10 | CHRIS AND DICK IN VENICE, 2007 | Oil on board | $552,643 | Tajan | Dec 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 70 | $115,052 |
| Other | 21 | $17,000 |
| Prints | 318 | $2,172 |
| Works on paper | 29 | $1,375 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 69 | $30,480 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 91 | $2,159 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 264 | $2,125 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 486 results from 35 houses · How we compute these figures
Richard Estes is an American artist with 570 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $2,508. 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 Estes sold in 2026 for $2,816, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
3 Richard Estes works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Richard Estes free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Richard Estes record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Richard Estes on OpeningBid →What is a Richard Estes work worth?
Across 484 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Richard Estes work is $2,508.
The median Richard Estes print sells for $2,054 across 351 lots.
The median Richard Estes painting sells for $82,485 across 82 lots.
The median Richard Estes work on paper sells for $1,250 across 22 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Richard Estes prints typically sell for $1,298–$2,864 (the middle half of 252 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Richard Estes prints typically sell for $1,311–$2,832 (the middle half of 54 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 | 395 | $2,054†‡ | $62,500 | 88.9% | 2026-10-20 |
| Paintings | 94 | $82,485‡ | $1.3M | 87.2% | 2026-07-07 |
| Works on Paper | 23 | $1,250‡ | $135,249 | 95.7% | 2025-08-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $3,125 | $3,250 | — | 2019-04-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 45 | $329,600 | $1.3M | — | 2025-11-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Richard Estes's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (395 lots) median $2,054 with 88.9% sell-through. Paintings (94 lots) median $82,485, record $1,284,000. A typical Richard Estes painting sells for around 40× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 45 lots) the median is $329,600.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 54 | $1,311–$2,832‡ | $1,938‡ | $10,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 252 | $1,298–$2,864†‡ | $1,885†‡ | $25,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 41 | $9,304–$25,400† | $15,860† | $62,500 |
† 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) | 30 | $1,375–$76,726‡ | $28,350‡ | $115,912 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 24 | $45,396–$116,415 | $66,780 | $552,643 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 27 | $321,800–$724,500 | $389,000 | $1.3M |
‡ 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) | 14 | $387–$1,738‡ | $812‡ | $29,752 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $22,500–$117,950 | $88,900 | $135,249 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2023 | $1.3M |
| Paintings | 2023 | $907,200 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $135,249 |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $122,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $62,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $60,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $3,250 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $3,000 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Richard Estes worth?
Across 484 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Richard Estes work is $2,508. The median Richard Estes print sells for $2,054 across 351 lots. The median Richard Estes painting sells for $82,485 across 82 lots. The median Richard Estes work on paper sells for $1,250 across 22 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Richard Estes prints typically sell for $1,298–$2,864 (the middle half of 252 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Richard Estes prints typically sell for $1,311–$2,832 (the middle half of 54 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 Estes print?
Based on 351 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Estes print is $2,054. 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 Estes's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Estes print is $62,500.
What is the average price of a Richard Estes painting?
Based on 82 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Estes painting is $82,485. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Richard Estes's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Estes painting is $1,284,000.
What is the average price of a Richard Estes work on paper?
Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Estes work on paper is $1,250. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Richard Estes's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Estes work on paper is $135,249.
What is the average price of a medium Richard Estes print?
Based on 252 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Richard Estes print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,885, 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 Estes print?
Based on 54 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Richard Estes print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,938, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Richard Estes's auction record?
Richard Estes's auction record is $1,284,000, set in 2023.
See the full Richard Estes record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Richard Estes on OpeningBid →