Robert Ryman (1930–2019)
What is Robert Ryman’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 172 auction results for Robert Ryman at 22 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $112,259 including buyer’s premium (middle half $8,145–$731,875, n=16). The auction record is $20,605,000 for Bridge (2015, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridge, 1980 | Oil paint | $20,605,000 | Christie's | May 2015 |
| 2 | Untitled (oil on linen), 1961 | Painting | $20,141,250 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 3 | Untitled [Winsor], 1966 | Winsor White oil on stretched sized linen canvas | $12,641,500 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 4 | Untitled (oil on linen), 1961 | Painting | $11,680,000 | Christie's | May 2024 |
| 5 | Link, 2002 | Oil paint | $11,365,000 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 6 | Connect, 2002 | Oil paint | $10,775,500 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |
| 7 | Swift | Oil paint | $10,665,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |
| 8 | Venue, 2002 | Oil paint | $9,349,000 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 9 | Large-Small Thick-Thin 1, 2008 | Oil paint | $7,993,000 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 10 | Mission, 1980 | Oil paint | $6,885,000 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 87 | $903,750 |
| Works on paper | 7 | $581,000 |
| Other | 18 | $116,391 |
| Prints | 51 | $2,805 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 14 | $10,007,250 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 81 | $187,500 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 55 | $16,250 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 172 results from 22 houses · How we compute these figures
Robert Ryman is an American artist with 196 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $158,174. 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 Ryman sold in 2026 for $4,146,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
3 Robert Ryman works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Robert Ryman free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Robert Ryman record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Robert Ryman on OpeningBid →What is a Robert Ryman work worth?
Across 172 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Ryman work is $158,174.
The median Robert Ryman painting sells for $1,331,090 across 71 lots.
The median Robert Ryman print sells for $2,809 across 61 lots.
The median Robert Ryman sculpture sells for $102,625 across 18 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Robert Ryman paintings typically sell for $245,700–$1,506,055 (the middle half of 40 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Robert Ryman prints typically sell for $1,930–$10,665 (the middle half of 35 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 | 66 | $2,809†‡ | $203,731 | 92.4% | 2026-10-28 |
| Paintings | 73 | $1.3M | $20.6M | 97.3% | 2026-04-27 |
| Works on Paper | 10 | $581,000 | $4.1M | 70% | 2026-05-15 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 23 | $102,625 | $3.6M | 78.3% | 2026-10-22 |
| Photography | 1 | $1,830 | $1,830 | — | 2009-12-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 93 | $903,750 | $20.6M | — | 2026-05-15 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Robert Ryman's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (66 lots) median $2,809 with 92.4% sell-through. Paintings (73 lots) median $1,331,090, record $20,605,000. A typical Robert Ryman painting sells for around 474× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 93 lots) the median is $903,750.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $1,281–$4,000‡ | $2,117‡ | $5,870‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 35 | $1,930–$10,665† | $3,830† | $203,731 |
† 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) | 40 | $245,700–$1.5M | $781,400 | $3.9M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $1.5M–$5.2M | $3.4M | $8M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $1.8M–$11.9M | $10.7M | $20.6M |
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $8,130–$296,750 | $19,985 | $545,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $56,250–$270,000 | $149,000 | $748,851 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2015 | $20.6M |
| Paintings | 2022 | $20.1M |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $4.1M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $3.6M |
| Works on Paper | 2012 | $1.7M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $748,851 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $203,731 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $152,549 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Robert Ryman worth?
Across 172 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Ryman work is $158,174. The median Robert Ryman painting sells for $1,331,090 across 71 lots. The median Robert Ryman print sells for $2,809 across 61 lots. The median Robert Ryman sculpture sells for $102,625 across 18 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Robert Ryman paintings typically sell for $245,700–$1,506,055 (the middle half of 40 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Robert Ryman prints typically sell for $1,930–$10,665 (the middle half of 35 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 Ryman painting?
Based on 71 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Ryman painting is $1,331,090.
What is Robert Ryman's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Ryman painting is $20,605,000.
What is the average price of a Robert Ryman print?
Based on 61 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Ryman print is $2,809. 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 Ryman's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Ryman print is $203,731.
What is the average price of a Robert Ryman sculpture?
Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Ryman sculpture is $102,625.
What is Robert Ryman's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Ryman sculpture is $3,607,500.
What is the average price of a small Robert Ryman painting?
Based on 40 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Robert Ryman painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $781,400, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is the average price of a medium Robert Ryman print?
Based on 35 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Robert Ryman print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,830, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Robert Ryman's auction record?
Robert Ryman's auction record is $20,605,000, set in 2015.
See the full Robert Ryman record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Robert Ryman on OpeningBid →