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

# Roger Ballen (b. 1950)

## What is Roger Ballen’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 93 auction results for Roger Ballen at 22 houses since 2005. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,348 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,040–$1,709, n=22). The auction record is $47,325 for Les Hammering into Wall (2022, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eleven Works: (i) Dresie & Casie Twins, Western Transvaal; (ii) Elias Coming out from Under John’s Bed; (iii) Old Man, Ottoshoop; (iv) Portrait of sleeping girl; (v) Puppy Between Feet; (vi) Sergeant F de Bruin. Department of Prisons Employee; (vii) Two men in Dormitory Northwest province; (viii) Untitled; (ix) Untitled; (x) Wife of abattoir worker holding puppies. Orange Free State; (xi) Woman sitting in front of bamboo fence, 1983-1996 | Each gelatin silver print | $20,913 | Phillips | Dec 2024 |
| 2 | Head inside shirt, Skew mash, Ape skull, Roar, 2001 | Silver prints | $12,963 | Sotheby's | Nov 2009 |
| 3 | Dresie et Casie, Twins, Western Transvaal, 1950 | Ce tirage est accompagné d'un certificat d'authenticité du photographe | $11,613 | Christie's | Nov 2015 |
| 4 | Puppy Between Feet, 1999 | Selenium toned gelatin silver print | $10,926 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 5 | Twirling Wires | Selenium toned gelatin silver print | $10,625 | Phillips | Apr 2013 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Les Hammering into Wall, 2000 | Gelatin silver print | $47,325 | Sotheby's | Sep 2022 |
| 2 | Dresie and Casie, Twins, Western Transvaal, 1993 | Gelatin silver print | $11,748 | Sotheby's | Apr 2022 |
| 3 | Sergeant F de Bruin, Department of Prisons Employee, Orange Free State, 1992 | Gelatin silver print on Ilford Multigrade paper | $10,594 | Roseberys London | Oct 2019 |
| 4 | Dresie and Casie, Twins, Western Transvaal, 1993 | Elixir of Life: Photographs from The Olbricht Collection | $10,297 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 5 | Dresie and Casie, twins, Western Transvaal, 2001 | Selenium toned gelatin silver print, printed 2001 | $10,140 | Phillips | Nov 2016 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 14 | $2,313 |
| Photographs | 50 | $2,300 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $7,301 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 49 | $1,898 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 93 results from 22 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Roger Ballen is an American artist with 124 auction lots recorded since 2005, median price $2,345. 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 Roger Ballen sold in 2026 for $4,087, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Roger Ballen work worth?

Across 86 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Roger Ballen work is $2,345.

The median Roger Ballen photograph sells for $2,375 across 74 lots.

The median Roger Ballen print sells for $2,889 across 5 lots.

The median Roger Ballen work on paper sells for $2,285 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Roger Ballen photographs typically sell for $1,298–$4,555 (the middle half of 55 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 | 6 | $2,889 | $7,301 | 83.3% | 2026-05-21 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $2,285 | $2,285 | — | 2010-10-26 |
| Photography | 87 | $2,375†‡ | $47,325 | 85.1% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $12,963 | $47,325 | — | 2024-12-04 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 55 | $1,298–$4,555†‡ | $1,918†‡ | $47,325 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $3,666–$10,700† | $4,466† | $11,613 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2022 | $47,325 |
| Photography | 2024 | $20,913 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $7,301 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $4,087 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $2,285 |

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 Roger Ballen worth?

Across 86 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Roger Ballen work is $2,345. The median Roger Ballen photograph sells for $2,375 across 74 lots. The median Roger Ballen print sells for $2,889 across 5 lots. The median Roger Ballen work on paper sells for $2,285 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Roger Ballen photographs typically sell for $1,298–$4,555 (the middle half of 55 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 Roger Ballen photograph?

Based on 74 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Roger Ballen photograph 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 Roger Ballen's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Roger Ballen photograph is $47,325.

### What is the average price of a small Roger Ballen photograph?

Based on 55 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Roger Ballen photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,918, 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 Roger Ballen's auction record?

Roger Ballen's auction record is $47,325, 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, “Roger Ballen auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/roger-ballen (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.