Roman Opalka (1931–2011)
Roman Opalka is a French artist with 76 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $66,586. 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 Roman Opalka sold in 2026 for $78,511, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Roman Opalka record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Roman Opalka on OpeningBid →What is a Roman Opalka work worth?
Across 57 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Roman Opalka work is $66,586.
The median Roman Opalka work on paper sells for $66,586 across 23 lots.
The median Roman Opalka painting sells for $788,061 across 13 lots.
The median Roman Opalka print sells for $3,042 across 7 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Roman Opalka work on papers typically sell for $50,409–$75,708 (the middle half of 20 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 | 11 | $3,042‡ | $5,298 | 63.6% | 2024-05-16 |
| Paintings | 13 | $788,061 | $1.4M | — | 2023-05-17 |
| Works on Paper | 28 | $66,586† | $123,766 | 82.1% | 2023-12-07 |
| Photography | 10 | $15,322† | $156,143 | 90% | 2026-06-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 17 | $765,952 | $1.4M | — | 2023-05-17 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Roman Opalka's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (11 lots) median $3,042 with 63.6% sell-through. Paintings (13 lots) median $788,061, record $1,382,403. A typical Roman Opalka painting sells for around 259× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 17 lots) the median is $765,952.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $3,042–$3,734‡ | $3,108‡ | $5,298 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $775,168–$905,658 | $819,000 | $1.4M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 20 | $50,409–$75,708† | $68,218† | $123,766 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $4,116–$20,816† | $18,040† | $156,143 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2021 | $1.4M |
| Paintings | 2019 | $975,590 |
| Photography | 2010 | $156,143 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $123,766 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $116,424 |
| Photography | 2022 | $20,816 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $3,734 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $3,108 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Roman Opalka worth?
Across 57 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Roman Opalka work is $66,586. The median Roman Opalka work on paper sells for $66,586 across 23 lots. The median Roman Opalka painting sells for $788,061 across 13 lots. The median Roman Opalka print sells for $3,042 across 7 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Roman Opalka work on papers typically sell for $50,409–$75,708 (the middle half of 20 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 Roman Opalka work on paper?
Based on 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Roman Opalka work on paper is $66,586. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Roman Opalka's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Roman Opalka work on paper is $123,766.
What is the average price of a Roman Opalka painting?
Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Roman Opalka painting is $788,061.
What is Roman Opalka's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Roman Opalka painting is $1,382,403.
What is the average price of a Roman Opalka print?
Based on 7 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Roman Opalka print is $3,042. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Roman Opalka's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Roman Opalka print is $5,298.
What is the average price of a small Roman Opalka work on paper?
Based on 20 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Roman Opalka work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $68,218, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a large Roman Opalka painting?
Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Roman Opalka painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $819,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Roman Opalka's auction record?
Roman Opalka's auction record is $1,382,403, set in 2021.
See the full Roman Opalka record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Roman Opalka on OpeningBid →