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

# Romare Bearden (1911–1988)

## What is Romare Bearden’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 831 auction results for Romare Bearden at 30 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,870 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,024–$10,220, n=103). The auction record is $1,109,000 for The Street (2021, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Street, 1975 | Paper | $1,109,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |
| 2 | The Cardplayers, 1982 | Mixed media | $1,024,300 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |
| 3 | Profile/Part II, The Thirties: Sitting in at Baron's, 1980 | Collage on Masonite | $952,500 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 4 | Train Whistle Blues: II, 1964 | Wool | $571,500 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| 5 | Carolina Morning, 1974 | Acrylic, watercolor and ink on paper and printed paper collage on board | $403,200 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |
| 6 | Profile/Part II: The Thirties, Susannah in Harlem, 1980 | Wool | $378,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2022 |
| 7 | Of the Blues: After Hours, 1975 | Mixed media and collage on paper | $368,300 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 8 | Profile/Part I, The Twenties: Mecklenburg County, Liza in High Cotton, 1978 | Wool | $352,800 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 9 | Strange Morning, Interior, 1968 | Ink | $338,500 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| 10 | Magic Garden, 1980 | Mixed media on Masonite | $317,500 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 16 | $51,460 |
| Other | 60 | $50,200 |
| Works on paper | 117 | $14,025 |
| Prints | 537 | $3,600 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $338,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 158 | $7,225 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 542 | $4,048 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 831 results from 30 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Romare Bearden is an American artist with 1,007 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $4,250. 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 Romare Bearden sold in 2026 for $5,120, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**2 Romare Bearden works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Romare Bearden on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/romare-bearden?ref=kg:romare-bearden) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Romare Bearden work worth?

Across 824 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Romare Bearden work is $4,250.

The median Romare Bearden print sells for $3,500 across 597 lots.

The median Romare Bearden work on paper sells for $20,625 across 121 lots.

The median Romare Bearden painting sells for $75,600 across 8 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Romare Bearden prints typically sell for $2,000–$5,670 (the middle half of 513 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Romare Bearden prints typically sell for $2,754–$5,500 (the middle half of 76 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 | 636 | $3,500† | $50,000 | 93.9% | 2026-10-14 |
| Paintings | 13 | $75,600 | $315,000 | 61.5% | 2025-11-20 |
| Works on Paper | 129 | $20,625† | $952,500 | 93.8% | 2026-10-01 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $87,500 | $87,500 | — | 2018-09-27 |
| Photography | 12 | $7,000† | $50,000 | — | 2026-05-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 42 | $172,537 | $1.1M | — | 2025-11-20 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Romare Bearden's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (636 lots) median $3,500 with 93.9% sell-through. Paintings (13 lots) median $75,600, record $315,000. A typical Romare Bearden painting sells for around 22× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 42 lots) the median is $172,537.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 76 | $2,754–$5,500† | $3,585† | $15,300 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 513 | $2,000–$5,670† | $3,360† | $50,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 58 | $9,608–$56,355† | $21,250† | $571,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 55 | $10,398–$54,060† | $19,000† | $403,200 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $4,915–$9,200† | $7,000† | $50,000 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $952,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $571,500 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $315,000 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $138,600 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $87,500 |
| Photography | 2008 | $50,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $50,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $43,200 |

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 Romare Bearden worth?

Across 824 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Romare Bearden work is $4,250. The median Romare Bearden print sells for $3,500 across 597 lots. The median Romare Bearden work on paper sells for $20,625 across 121 lots. The median Romare Bearden painting sells for $75,600 across 8 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Romare Bearden prints typically sell for $2,000–$5,670 (the middle half of 513 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Romare Bearden prints typically sell for $2,754–$5,500 (the middle half of 76 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 Romare Bearden print?

Based on 597 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Romare Bearden print is $3,500. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Romare Bearden's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Romare Bearden print is $50,000.

### What is the average price of a Romare Bearden work on paper?

Based on 121 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Romare Bearden work on paper is $20,625. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Romare Bearden's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Romare Bearden work on paper is $952,500.

### What is the average price of a Romare Bearden painting?

Based on 8 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Romare Bearden painting is $75,600.

### What is Romare Bearden's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Romare Bearden painting is $315,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Romare Bearden print?

Based on 513 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Romare Bearden print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,360, 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 small Romare Bearden print?

Based on 76 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Romare Bearden print (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,585, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Romare Bearden's auction record?

Romare Bearden's auction record is $1,109,000, set in 2021.

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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, “Romare Bearden auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/romare-bearden (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.