Rufino Tamayo (1899–1991)
What is Rufino Tamayo’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 2,112 auction results for Rufino Tamayo at 80 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,302 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,089–$6,752, n=204). The auction record is $6,802,500 for America (2008, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | America | — | $6,802,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2008 |
| 2 | El Comedor de Sandías | — | $3,625,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 3 | Sandías, 1955 | Oil on canvas | $2,735,654 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 4 | Dos amantes contemplando la luna, 1950 | Oil paint | $2,295,000 | Christie's | Jul 2020 |
| 5 | Hombre feliz, 1947 | Oil paint | $2,172,500 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 6 | Sandías, 1969 | Oil paint | $2,167,500 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |
| 7 | Maestros cantores, 1949 | Oil paint | $2,165,000 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 8 | Hombre contra el muro, 1981 | Oil paint | $1,740,000 | Christie's | Sep 2022 |
| 9 | Los tres amigos, 1987 | Oil paint | $1,623,000 | Christie's | Sep 2023 |
| 10 | Discusión acalorada, 1953 | Oil on canvas | $1,583,993 | Christie's | May 2005 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 127 | $450,000 |
| Sculpture | 9 | $209,550 |
| Works on paper | 373 | $5,200 |
| Other | 178 | $4,000 |
| Prints | 1,000 | $2,250 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 81 | $310,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 193 | $3,018 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 1,333 | $3,000 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 2,112 results from 80 houses · How we compute these figures
Rufino Tamayo is a Mexican artist with 2,453 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $2,900. 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 Rufino Tamayo sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $3,000 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
17 Rufino Tamayo works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Rufino Tamayo free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Rufino Tamayo record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Rufino Tamayo on OpeningBid →What is a Rufino Tamayo work worth?
Across 2,057 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Rufino Tamayo work is $2,900.
The median Rufino Tamayo print sells for $2,500 across 1,606 lots.
The median Rufino Tamayo work on paper sells for $5,378 across 212 lots.
The median Rufino Tamayo painting sells for $453,000 across 132 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Rufino Tamayo prints typically sell for $1,875–$3,900 (the middle half of 1,348 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Rufino Tamayo prints typically sell for $1,082–$2,906 (the middle half of 146 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 | 1,712 | $2,500†‡ | $371,600† | 93.8% | 2026-10-29 |
| Paintings | 148 | $453,000† | $2.7M | 89.2% | 2025-11-21 |
| Works on Paper | 228 | $5,378†‡ | $473,000 | 93% | 2026-10-17 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 10 | $218,175 | $466,200 | — | 2026-02-28 |
| Photography | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 143 | $473,000† | $6.8M | — | 2025-11-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Rufino Tamayo's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1,712 lots) median $2,500 with 93.8% sell-through. Paintings (148 lots) median $453,000, record $2,735,654. A typical Rufino Tamayo painting sells for around 181× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 143 lots) the median is $473,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 146 | $1,082–$2,906†‡ | $1,920†‡ | $15,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 1,348 | $1,875–$3,900†‡ | $2,546†‡ | $371,600† |
| large (over 120 cm) | 23 | $6,533–$23,095†‡ | $15,908†‡ | $44,062 |
† 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) | 25 | $25,000–$106,250† | $71,792† | $223,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 60 | $225,154–$748,050† | $477,750† | $2.7M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 46 | $449,250–$687,875† | $547,500† | $1.7M |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 64 | $4,460–$32,408†‡ | $14,152†‡ | $151,200 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 139 | $3,825–$6,185† | $4,800† | $473,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $15,000–$25,075 | $20,000 | $273,446 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $139,700–$266,500 | $209,550 | $310,500 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2014 | $2.7M |
| Paintings | 2020 | $2.3M |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $473,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $466,200 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $371,600† |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1999 | $310,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $273,446 |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $63,812 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Rufino Tamayo worth?
Across 2,057 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Rufino Tamayo work is $2,900. The median Rufino Tamayo print sells for $2,500 across 1,606 lots. The median Rufino Tamayo work on paper sells for $5,378 across 212 lots. The median Rufino Tamayo painting sells for $453,000 across 132 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Rufino Tamayo prints typically sell for $1,875–$3,900 (the middle half of 1,348 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Rufino Tamayo prints typically sell for $1,082–$2,906 (the middle half of 146 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 Rufino Tamayo print?
Based on 1,606 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Rufino Tamayo print is $2,500. 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 Rufino Tamayo's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Rufino Tamayo print is $371,600. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $371,600 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a Rufino Tamayo work on paper?
Based on 212 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Rufino Tamayo work on paper is $5,378. 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 Rufino Tamayo's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Rufino Tamayo work on paper is $473,000.
What is the average price of a Rufino Tamayo painting?
Based on 132 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Rufino Tamayo painting is $453,000. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Rufino Tamayo's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Rufino Tamayo painting is $2,735,654.
What is the average price of a medium Rufino Tamayo print?
Based on 1,348 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Rufino Tamayo print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,546, 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 Rufino Tamayo print?
Based on 146 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Rufino Tamayo print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,920, 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 Rufino Tamayo's auction record?
Rufino Tamayo's auction record is $6,802,500, set in 2008.
See the full Rufino Tamayo record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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