> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/roy-de-forest · updated 2026-11-03

# Roy de Forest (1930–2007)

## What is Roy de Forest’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 66 auction results for Roy de Forest at 15 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $4,608 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,144–$10,745, n=10). The auction record is $94,500 for Painter of the Tropics (2025, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Painter of the Tropics, 1992 | Acrylic, polymer and polyurethane on canvas and wood, in artist's frame | $94,500 | Christie's | Jul 2025 |
| 2 | Indian Joe reads the major works of Edmund Husseryl, 1964 | Acrylic on canvas | $43,750 | Christie's | Dec 2017 |
| 3 | The Wolf Man, 1982 | Acrylic on linen in artist's painted frame | $43,750 | Christie's | Mar 2004 |
| 4 | The Country Life, 1972, 1930 | — | $28,000 | Bonhams | Nov 2016 |
| 5 | A Midwestern Window, 1930 | Polymer paint on canvas | $25,600 | Bonhams | Jun 2026 |
| 6 | Luck of the Red Cross Dog, 1997, 1930 | Acrylic, pastel, charcoal, ink, graphite and glitter on paper in artist's frame | $13,750 | Bonhams | May 2018 |
| 7 | Untitled (acrylic, pastel, charcoal and graphite on paper), 1930 | Acrylic, pastel, charcoal and graphite on paper in artist's frame | $12,160 | Bonhams | Jun 2026 |
| 8 | Albert, 1930 | Acrylic and vinyl on panel in artist's frame | $10,625 | Bonhams | Apr 2017 |
| 9 | Untitled (Airplane), 1930 | Acrylic, pastel, colored pencil and pencil on paper in artist's frame | $9,375 | Bonhams | Apr 2014 |
| 10 | Drawing, 1971 | Pastel, charcoal, felt-tip pen, graphite and color pencil on paper in artist's frame | $6,875 | Christie's | Dec 2018 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 7 | $25,600 |
| Works on paper | 21 | $4,352 |
| Prints | 20 | $616 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $25,600 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 31 | $1,100 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 66 results from 15 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Roy de Forest is an American artist with 85 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $3,000. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by Roy de Forest sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $15,000 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Roy de Forest work worth?

Across 65 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Roy de Forest work is $3,000.

The median Roy de Forest print sells for $700 across 19 lots.

The median Roy de Forest work on paper sells for $4,750 across 15 lots.

The median Roy de Forest painting sells for $34,675 across 6 lots.

Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 21 | $700† | $4,864 | 90.5% | 2026-10-17 |
| Paintings | 6 | $34,675 | $94,500 | — | 2026-06-24 |
| Works on Paper | 15 | $4,750† | $12,160 | — | 2026-06-24 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $43,750 | $94,500 | — | 2025-07-18 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Roy de Forest's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (21 lots) median $700 with 90.5% sell-through. Paintings (6 lots) median $34,675, record $94,500. A typical Roy de Forest painting sells for around 50× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $43,750.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $538–$912† | $725† | $4,864 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $25,600–$43,750 | $43,750 | $94,500 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $2,812–$5,875† | $4,551† | $7,000† |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2025 | $94,500 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $43,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $12,160 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $7,000† |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $4,864 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $4,500† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Roy de Forest worth?

Across 65 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Roy de Forest work is $3,000. The median Roy de Forest print sells for $700 across 19 lots. The median Roy de Forest work on paper sells for $4,750 across 15 lots. The median Roy de Forest painting sells for $34,675 across 6 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a Roy de Forest print?

Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Roy de Forest print is $700. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Roy de Forest's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Roy de Forest print is $4,864.

### What is the average price of a Roy de Forest work on paper?

Based on 15 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Roy de Forest work on paper is $4,750. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Roy de Forest's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Roy de Forest work on paper is $12,160.

### What is the average price of a medium Roy de Forest print?

Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Roy de Forest print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $725, 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 medium Roy de Forest work on paper?

Based on 14 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Roy de Forest work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,551, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Roy de Forest's auction record?

Roy de Forest's auction record is $94,500, set in 2025.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Roy de Forest auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/roy-de-forest (updated 2026-11-03).

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.