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

# Roberto Matta (1911–2002)

## What is Roberto Matta’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,625 auction results for Roberto Matta at 122 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,823 including buyer’s premium (middle half $440–$23,813, n=118). The auction record is $1,687,500 for Endless Nudes (2003, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Endless Nudes, 1941-1942 | Oil paint | $1,687,500 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 2 | Prince of Blood, 1943 | Oil on canvas | $1,585,599 | Sotheby's | Mar 2021 |
| 3 | MORPHOLOGIE PSYCHOLOGIQUE DE L'ANGOISSE (LA VEILLE DE LA MORT), 1938 | Huile sur toile | $931,697 | Artcurial | Feb 2016 |
| 4 | Prince of Blood (Tragiptych), 1943 | Oil paint | $745,488 | Christie's | Jun 2009 |
| 5 | The Morphology of Desire, 1938 | Oil paint | $735,500 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 6 | Eupure, 1911 | Oil paint | $562,937 | Christie's | Feb 2020 |
| 7 | The Morphology of Desire, 1938 | Oil paint | $552,993 | Christie's | Jul 2008 |
| 8 | Personnages and automobile, 1938 | Pencil | $464,399 | Christie's | Feb 2011 |
| 9 | Octrui, 1911 | Huile sur toile | $399,461 | Christie's | Dec 2009 |
| 10 | Morningness, 1953 | Oil paint | $389,000 | Christie's | May 2016 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 202 | $57,530 |
| Works on paper | 135 | $5,750 |
| Sculpture | 18 | $3,700 |
| Other | 120 | $3,680 |
| Prints | 520 | $630 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 95 | $93,565 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 536 | $1,875 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 269 | $1,079 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,625 results from 122 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Roberto Matta is a Chilean artist with 2,110 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $1,000. 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 Roberto Matta is recorded as sold in 2026 for $3,352; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**7 Roberto Matta works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Roberto Matta on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/roberto-matta?ref=kg:roberto-matta) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Roberto Matta work worth?

Across 1,542 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Roberto Matta work is $1,000.

The median Roberto Matta print sells for $460 across 979 lots.

The median Roberto Matta painting sells for $52,774 across 235 lots.

The median Roberto Matta work on paper sells for $5,286 across 191 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Roberto Matta prints typically sell for $301–$874 (the middle half of 533 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Roberto Matta prints typically sell for $261–$1,230 (the middle half of 363 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 | 1,118 | $460†‡ | $13,148 | 87.6% | 2026-10-10 |
| Paintings | 276 | $52,774†‡ | $1.7M | 85.1% | 2026-10-30 |
| Works on Paper | 249 | $5,286†‡ | $464,399 | 76.7% | 2026-07-02 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 26 | $4,494†‡ | $23,738 | 84.6% | 2025-11-27 |
| Photography | 2 | $277‡ | $460 | — | 2026-04-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 82 | $166,534‡ | $1.7M | — | 2026-03-26 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Roberto Matta's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1,118 lots) median $460 with 87.6% sell-through. Paintings (276 lots) median $52,774, record $1,687,500. A typical Roberto Matta painting sells for around 115× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 82 lots) the median is $166,534.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 363 | $261–$1,230†‡ | $451†‡ | $13,114 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 533 | $301–$874†‡ | $448†‡ | $13,148 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $1,751–$2,940† | $2,500† | $7,500 |

† 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 | $4,841–$82,091‡ | $19,992‡ | $214,469 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 143 | $25,276–$57,530†‡ | $38,000†‡ | $1.7M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 68 | $81,696–$215,694†‡ | $117,066†‡ | $1.6M |

† 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) | 69 | $791–$9,200†‡ | $2,509†‡ | $464,399 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 102 | $3,779–$10,744†‡ | $5,748†‡ | $259,652 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $8,761–$75,734‡ | $20,445‡ | $127,438 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $3,525–$4,357‡ | $3,925‡ | $7,408 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $12,413–$18,991‡ | $17,213‡ | $23,738 |

‡ 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 | 2003 | $1.7M |
| Paintings | 2021 | $1.6M |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $464,399 |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $269,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $23,738 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $23,738 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $13,148 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $13,114 |

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 Roberto Matta worth?

Across 1,542 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Roberto Matta work is $1,000. The median Roberto Matta print sells for $460 across 979 lots. The median Roberto Matta painting sells for $52,774 across 235 lots. The median Roberto Matta work on paper sells for $5,286 across 191 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Roberto Matta prints typically sell for $301–$874 (the middle half of 533 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Roberto Matta prints typically sell for $261–$1,230 (the middle half of 363 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 Roberto Matta print?

Based on 979 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Roberto Matta print is $460. 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 Roberto Matta's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Roberto Matta print is $13,148.

### What is the average price of a Roberto Matta painting?

Based on 235 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Roberto Matta painting is $52,774. 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 Roberto Matta's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Roberto Matta painting is $1,687,500.

### What is the average price of a Roberto Matta work on paper?

Based on 191 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Roberto Matta work on paper is $5,286. 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 Roberto Matta's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Roberto Matta work on paper is $464,399.

### What is the average price of a medium Roberto Matta print?

Based on 533 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Roberto Matta print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $448, 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 small Roberto Matta print?

Based on 363 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Roberto Matta print (small (under 50 cm)) is $451, 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 Roberto Matta's auction record?

Roberto Matta's auction record is $1,687,500, set in 2003.

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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, “Roberto Matta auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/roberto-matta (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.