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

# Richard Smith

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 250 auction results for Richard Smith at 37 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $469 including buyer’s premium (middle half $258–$818, n=34). The auction record is $164,131 for Place I (2020, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Place I, 1960 | Oil paint | $164,131 | Christie's | Jan 2020 |
| 2 | Noplace, 1958 | Oil on board in two parts | $137,806 | Roseberys London | Feb 2020 |
| 3 | Untitled (Triptych), 1965 | Acrylic on shaped canvas, in three parts | $97,568 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |
| 4 | Maryland 1972 | — | $56,108 | Sotheby's | Jul 2007 |
| 5 | A Whole Year and half a day no. 4, 1966 | — | $53,668 | Sotheby's | Jul 2007 |
| 6 | Garland, 1962 | Painting | $50,000 | Rago Arts | Sep 2021 |
| 7 | JAN 1959, 1931 | Oil paint | $42,751 | Christie's | Nov 2007 |
| 8 | Red abstract composition, 1957 | Oil on board in two parts | $40,333 | Roseberys London | Feb 2020 |
| 9 | second seven | — | $40,199 | Sotheby's | Jul 2008 |
| 10 | A Whole Year a half a day VIII, 1966 | Acrylic on canvas with aluminium | $38,287 | Christie's | Jun 2017 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 30 | $8,295 |
| Works on paper | 21 | $1,875 |
| Other | 26 | $1,741 |
| Prints | 120 | $451 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 36 | $8,295 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 133 | $530 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 15 | $422 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 250 results from 37 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Richard Smith is a British (modern) artist with 371 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $538. 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 Smith sold in 2026 for $2,926, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Richard Smith work worth?

Across 246 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Richard Smith work is $538.

The median Richard Smith print sells for $421 across 146 lots.

The median Richard Smith painting sells for $8,730 across 31 lots.

The median Richard Smith work on paper sells for $1,740 across 18 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Richard Smith prints typically sell for $278–$600 (the middle half of 130 sold lots).

Large (over 120 cm) Richard Smith paintings typically sell for $7,119–$40,333 (the middle half of 21 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 | 168 | $421†‡ | $1,985 | 86.9% | 2026-09-16 |
| Paintings | 37 | $8,730†‡ | $164,131 | 83.8% | 2026-09-30 |
| Works on Paper | 18 | $1,740†‡ | $11,145 | — | 2025-09-23 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 10 | $7,860 | $22,869 | 50% | 2024-12-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 13 | $42,751 | $164,131 | — | 2023-03-22 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Richard Smith's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (168 lots) median $421 with 86.9% sell-through. Paintings (37 lots) median $8,730, record $164,131. A typical Richard Smith painting sells for around 21× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 13 lots) the median is $42,751.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $306–$403† | $366† | $1,261 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 130 | $278–$600†‡ | $439†‡ | $1,985 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $302–$397 | $315 | $602 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $1,322–$3,859† | $2,844† | $32,938 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 21 | $7,119–$40,333 | $17,050 | $164,131 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $1,264–$2,585† | $1,875† | $11,145 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2020 | $164,131 |
| Paintings | 2020 | $137,806 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $22,869 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $12,800 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $11,145 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $3,438 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $1,985 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $1,818 |

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 Smith worth?

Across 246 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Richard Smith work is $538. The median Richard Smith print sells for $421 across 146 lots. The median Richard Smith painting sells for $8,730 across 31 lots. The median Richard Smith work on paper sells for $1,740 across 18 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Richard Smith prints typically sell for $278–$600 (the middle half of 130 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Richard Smith paintings typically sell for $7,119–$40,333 (the middle half of 21 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 Smith print?

Based on 146 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Smith print is $421. 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 Smith's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Smith print is $1,985.

### What is the average price of a Richard Smith painting?

Based on 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Smith painting is $8,730. 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 Smith's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Smith painting is $164,131.

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

Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Smith work on paper is $1,740. 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 Smith's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Smith work on paper is $11,145.

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

Based on 130 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Richard Smith print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $439, 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 large Richard Smith painting?

Based on 21 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Richard Smith painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $17,050, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

Richard Smith's auction record is $164,131, 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 Smith auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/richard-smith (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.