Robert Barry (b. 1936)
What is Robert Barry’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 92 auction results for Robert Barry at 26 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,498 including buyer’s premium (middle half $472–$4,215, n=19). The auction record is $25,300 for Four Corner Piece (1998, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Four Corner Piece, 1936 | Acrylic paint | $25,300 | Christie's | Jun 1998 |
| 2 | Untitled (Going On), 1988 | Acrylic paint | $25,200 | Phillips | Jun 2021 |
| 3 | Sans titre (acrylic on wood, in ten parts), 2015 | Acrylic paint | $24,858 | Christie's | Sep 2021 |
| 4 | It is... (documenta 5), 1971 | 79 s/w Dias (Endlosschleife) und Kodak-Karussell-Diaprojektor | $19,677 | Van Ham Kunstauktionen | Dec 2025 |
| 5 | Untitled (acrylic on canvas), 1993 | Acrylic paint | $16,544 | Christie's | Mar 2014 |
| 6 | Untitled, 1995 | Tempera su cartone | $15,252 | Finarte Casa d'Aste | Apr 2023 |
| 7 | Textdrawing, 1978 | Ink | $15,136 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 8 | Invitation piece, 1972 | Invitation card mounted on card laid on board, in eight parts | $14,641 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 9 | Untitled, 1936 | Acrylic | $14,400 | Bonhams | May 2008 |
| 10 | Merge, 1975 | 80 Dias (Endlosschleife) und Kodak-Karussell-Diaprojektor | $13,616 | Van Ham Kunstauktionen | Jun 2026 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 15 | $10,320 |
| Other | 16 | $4,359 |
| Works on paper | 16 | $4,150 |
| Prints | 13 | $762 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $12,817 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 20 | $4,961 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 29 | $1,027 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 92 results from 26 houses · How we compute these figures
Robert Barry is an American artist with 124 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $3,061. 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 Robert Barry sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $4,594 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Robert Barry work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Robert Barry free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Robert Barry record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Robert Barry on OpeningBid →What is a Robert Barry work worth?
Across 92 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Barry work is $3,061.
The median Robert Barry work on paper sells for $4,219 across 28 lots.
The median Robert Barry painting sells for $6,055 across 22 lots.
The median Robert Barry print sells for $311 across 19 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 | 25 | $311†‡ | $1,498 | 76% | 2026-03-04 |
| Paintings | 28 | $6,055†‡ | $25,300 | 78.6% | 2026-07-02 |
| Works on Paper | 33 | $4,219† | $15,136 | 84.8% | 2025-12-04 |
| Photography | 2 | $12,658 | $19,677 | — | 2025-12-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $24,858 | $25,300 | — | 2025-12-03 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Robert Barry's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (25 lots) median $311 with 76% sell-through. Paintings (28 lots) median $6,055, record $25,300. A typical Robert Barry painting sells for around 19× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $24,858.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $199–$757† | $438† | $1,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $119–$858†‡ | $311†‡ | $1,498 |
† 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) | 7 | $175–$5,322‡ | $200‡ | $25,300 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $3,914–$11,023†‡ | $6,250†‡ | $24,858 |
† 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) | 19 | $472–$5,963 | $2,708 | $9,525 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $4,339–$6,102† | $5,172† | $15,136 |
† 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 | 1998 | $25,300 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $24,858 |
| Photography | 2025 | $19,677 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $15,136 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $9,525 |
| Photography | 2022 | $5,638 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $1,498 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $1,408 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Robert Barry worth?
Across 92 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Barry work is $3,061. The median Robert Barry work on paper sells for $4,219 across 28 lots. The median Robert Barry painting sells for $6,055 across 22 lots. The median Robert Barry print sells for $311 across 19 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 Robert Barry work on paper?
Based on 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Barry work on paper is $4,219. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Robert Barry's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Barry work on paper is $15,136.
What is the average price of a Robert Barry painting?
Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Barry painting is $6,055. 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 Robert Barry's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Barry painting is $25,300.
What is the average price of a Robert Barry print?
Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Barry print is $311. 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 Robert Barry's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Barry print is $1,498.
What is the average price of a small Robert Barry work on paper?
Based on 19 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Robert Barry work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,708, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is the average price of a medium Robert Barry painting?
Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Robert Barry painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $6,250, 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 Robert Barry's auction record?
Robert Barry's auction record is $25,300, set in 1998.
See the full Robert Barry record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Robert Barry on OpeningBid →