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

# Robert Rauschenberg (1925–2008)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 3,272 auction results for Robert Rauschenberg at 112 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,530 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,397–$5,176, n=384). The auction record is $88,805,000 for Buffalo II (2019, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffalo II, 1964 | Oil paint | $88,805,000 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 2 | Johanson's Painting, 1961 | Oil, metal, fabric, wood, paper, twine, picture frame, shaving brush and tin can on masonite in artist's frame | $18,645,000 | Christie's | May 2015 |
| 3 | Overdrive | Oil and silkscreen ink on canvas | $14,601,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 4 | Photograph | Oil, paper, photographs, metal, fabric, necktie, and wood on canvas | $10,680,000 | Sotheby's | May 2007 |
| 5 | Hawk, 1960 | Collage | $8,460,000 | Christie's | May 2024 |
| 6 | Exile | Oil and silkscreen ink on canvas | $8,034,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2010 |
| 7 | Rigger, 1961 | Mixed media painting | $8,000,000 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 8 | Levee, 1955 | Oil, paper collage, printed paper collage, fabric and necktie on canvas laid down on Masonite | $7,151,000 | Christie's | May 2026 |
| 9 | Transom, 1963 | Oil paint | $5,665,498 | Christie's | Mar 2017 |
| 10 | Sundog, 1962 | Oil paint | $4,900,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 70 | $352,750 |
| Works on paper | 282 | $23,357 |
| Sculpture | 23 | $13,750 |
| Other | 395 | $8,750 |
| Photographs | 77 | $5,240 |
| Prints | 1,773 | $2,500 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 546 | $17,150 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 291 | $2,750 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 1,626 | $2,550 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 3,272 results from 112 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Robert Rauschenberg is an American artist with 4,162 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $3,000. 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 Rauschenberg sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $5,250 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**20 Robert Rauschenberg works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Robert Rauschenberg on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/robert-rauschenberg?ref=kg:robert-rauschenberg) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Robert Rauschenberg work worth?

Across 3,230 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Rauschenberg work is $3,000.

The median Robert Rauschenberg print sells for $2,375 across 2,269 lots.

The median Robert Rauschenberg photograph sells for $5,490 across 213 lots.

The median Robert Rauschenberg work on paper sells for $34,275 across 215 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Robert Rauschenberg prints typically sell for $1,228–$3,750 (the middle half of 1,551 sold lots).

Large (over 120 cm) Robert Rauschenberg prints typically sell for $3,012–$19,210 (the middle half of 390 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 | 2,654 | $2,375†‡ | $3.5M | 85.5% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 40 | $117,080‡ | $88.8M | 75% | 2026-06-18 |
| Works on Paper | 255 | $34,275†‡ | $7.2M | 84.3% | 2026-05-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 76 | $21,119† | $1.1M | 94.7% | 2026-10-14 |
| Photography | 258 | $5,490†‡ | $2.7M | 82.6% | 2026-10-22 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 275 | $267,315†‡ | $88.8M | — | 2026-06-25 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Robert Rauschenberg's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2,654 lots) median $2,375 with 85.5% sell-through. Paintings (40 lots) median $117,080, record $88,805,000. A typical Robert Rauschenberg painting sells for around 49× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 275 lots) the median is $267,315.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 211 | $984–$3,282†‡ | $1,600†‡ | $963,750 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 1,551 | $1,228–$3,750†‡ | $2,125†‡ | $3.5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 390 | $3,012–$19,210†‡ | $8,247†‡ | $2.7M |

† 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) | 5 | $6,250–$15,120 | $7,800 | $230,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $5,856–$88,375‡ | $18,501‡ | $242,500 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 15 | $138,145–$2.9M | $189,740 | $88.8M |

‡ 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) | 30 | $4,400–$32,500† | $9,688† | $938,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 127 | $3,302–$124,250†‡ | $30,480†‡ | $962,500 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 41 | $57,600–$300,042†‡ | $122,089†‡ | $7.2M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 25 | $4,750–$11,250† | $8,820† | $98,500 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 38 | $19,422–$155,164 | $61,750 | $1.1M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 42 | $1,223–$10,978†‡ | $4,188†‡ | $22,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 93 | $2,040–$19,350†‡ | $4,645†‡ | $2.7M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 62 | $6,173–$169,459†‡ | $22,656†‡ | $1.5M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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 | 2019 | $88.8M |
| Paintings | 2010 | $8M |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $7.2M |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $3.5M |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $3.1M |
| Photography | 2025 | $2.7M |
| Photography | 2013 | $2.2M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2002 | $1.1M |

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 Rauschenberg worth?

Across 3,230 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Rauschenberg work is $3,000. The median Robert Rauschenberg print sells for $2,375 across 2,269 lots. The median Robert Rauschenberg photograph sells for $5,490 across 213 lots. The median Robert Rauschenberg work on paper sells for $34,275 across 215 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Robert Rauschenberg prints typically sell for $1,228–$3,750 (the middle half of 1,551 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Robert Rauschenberg prints typically sell for $3,012–$19,210 (the middle half of 390 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 Robert Rauschenberg print?

Based on 2,269 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Rauschenberg print is $2,375. 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 Rauschenberg's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Rauschenberg print is $3,525,000.

### What is the average price of a Robert Rauschenberg photograph?

Based on 213 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Rauschenberg photograph is $5,490. 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 Rauschenberg's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Rauschenberg photograph is $2,734,000.

### What is the average price of a Robert Rauschenberg work on paper?

Based on 215 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Rauschenberg work on paper is $34,275. 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 Rauschenberg's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Rauschenberg work on paper is $7,151,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Robert Rauschenberg print?

Based on 1,551 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Robert Rauschenberg print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,125, 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 Robert Rauschenberg print?

Based on 390 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Robert Rauschenberg print (large (over 120 cm)) is $8,247, 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 Rauschenberg's auction record?

Robert Rauschenberg's auction record is $88,805,000, set in 2019.

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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 Rauschenberg auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/robert-rauschenberg (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.