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

# Richard Estes (b. 1936)

## What is Richard Estes’s work worth? {#value}

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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 70 | $115,052 |
| Other | 21 | $17,000 |
| Prints | 318 | $2,172 |
| Works on paper | 29 | $1,375 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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).

- [Richard Estes on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/richard-estes?ref=kg:richard-estes) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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 Estes auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/richard-estes (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.