Robert Smithson (1938–1973)
Robert Smithson is an American artist with 55 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $13,125. 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 Smithson sold in 2025 for $21,590, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Robert Smithson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Robert Smithson on OpeningBid →What is a Robert Smithson work worth?
Across 50 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Smithson work is $13,125.
The median Robert Smithson work on paper sells for $16,413 across 16 lots.
The median Robert Smithson painting sells for $40,000 across 5 lots.
The median Robert Smithson print sells for $1,228 across 6 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 | 6 | $1,228† | $2,000 | — | 2022-08-12 |
| Paintings | 6 | $40,000 | $62,500 | 83.3% | 2019-09-25 |
| Works on Paper | 19 | $16,413‡ | $50,000 | 84.2% | 2025-07-08 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 5 | $266,500 | $1.8M | — | 2019-05-15 |
| Photography | 5 | $6,193 | $75,696 | — | 2022-04-06 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $713,000 | $4.3M | — | 2019-05-15 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Robert Smithson's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (6 lots) median $1,228. Paintings (6 lots) median $40,000, record $62,500. A typical Robert Smithson painting sells for around 33× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $713,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $414–$1,750† | $1,375† | $2,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $10,625–$15,000 | $11,970 | $21,590 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $15,706–$27,161‡ | $23,479‡ | $50,000 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $1.8M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2009 | $902,500 |
| Photography | 2022 | $75,696 |
| Paintings | 2014 | $62,500 |
| Paintings | 2009 | $50,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $50,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $32,543 |
| Photography | 2022 | $6,193 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Robert Smithson worth?
Across 50 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Smithson work is $13,125. The median Robert Smithson work on paper sells for $16,413 across 16 lots. The median Robert Smithson painting sells for $40,000 across 5 lots. The median Robert Smithson print sells for $1,228 across 6 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 Smithson work on paper?
Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Smithson work on paper is $16,413. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Robert Smithson's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Smithson work on paper is $50,000.
What is the average price of a medium Robert Smithson work on paper?
Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Robert Smithson work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $23,479, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Robert Smithson's auction record?
Robert Smithson's auction record is $4,297,000, set in 2008.
See the full Robert Smithson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Robert Smithson on OpeningBid →