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

# Robert Cumming (1943–2021)

## What is Robert Cumming’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 33 auction results for Robert Cumming at 8 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,143 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,688–$3,958, n=18). The auction record is $16,380 for Line Separates from Shape (2022, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Line Separates from Shape, 1979 | Cartes-de-visite | $16,380 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 2 | Interior Detail Tests, 1974 | Original silver gelatin print | $10,443 | Galerie Bernaerts | Mar 2026 |
| 3 | Easy Analogy, 1979 | Ink | $9,525 | Rago Arts | Jun 2025 |
| 4 | Night Oasis / New Buckets, 1974 | Gelatin silver print | $7,560 | Sotheby's | Apr 2021 |
| 5 | Easy Analogy, 1979 | — | $7,500 | Wright | Jun 2025 |
| 6 | Easy Analogy, 1979 | Unique large-format Polaroid Polacolor print | $7,500 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Jun 2025 |
| 7 | Toy Boat Afloat in Small Pond, Upon Setting Sail, Sinks Reflection., 1943 | " A diptych of silver prints | $6,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2014 |
| 8 | Four Sides of a Small House, 1974 | Original silver gelatin print | $4,177 | Galerie Bernaerts | Mar 2026 |
| 9 | Theatre for Two--Easy Analogies, 1943 | Pencil | $4,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2015 |
| 10 | Censor's Pencils, 1979 | Pencil | $3,302 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Jul 2025 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 7 | $4,177 |
| Other | 12 | $2,625 |
| Works on paper | 7 | $889 |
| Prints | 5 | $300 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $2,768 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 12 | $572 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 33 results from 8 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Robert Cumming is an American artist with 35 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $1,800.

A work by Robert Cumming sold in 2026 for $10,443, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Robert Cumming work worth?

Across 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Cumming work is $1,800.

The median Robert Cumming photograph sells for $4,089 across 10 lots.

The median Robert Cumming work on paper sells for $1,270 across 10 lots.

The median Robert Cumming print sells for $350 across 4 lots.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 4 | $350 | $1,100 | — | 2024-03-26 |
| Paintings | 1 | $826 | $826 | — | 2015-07-10 |
| Works on Paper | 10 | $1,270 | $9,525 | — | 2025-12-11 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $1,386 | $1,386 | 50% | 2024-04-24 |
| Photography | 10 | $4,089 | $16,380 | — | 2026-06-26 |

Robert Cumming's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (4 lots) median $350. Paintings (1 lots) median $826, record $826. A typical Robert Cumming painting sells for around 2.4× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $889–$3,112 | $2,096 | $9,525 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $3,812–$8,281 | $5,339 | $16,380 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2022 | $16,380 |
| Photography | 2026 | $10,443 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $9,525 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $3,302 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $1,386 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $1,100 |
| Paintings | 2015 | $826 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $400 |

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 Robert Cumming worth?

Across 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Cumming work is $1,800. The median Robert Cumming photograph sells for $4,089 across 10 lots. The median Robert Cumming work on paper sells for $1,270 across 10 lots. The median Robert Cumming print sells for $350 across 4 lots.

### What is Robert Cumming's auction record?

Robert Cumming's auction record is $16,380, set in 2022.

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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, “Robert Cumming auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/robert-cumming (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.