Sebastião Salgado (1944–2025)
What is Sebastião Salgado’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 411 auction results for Sebastião Salgado at 19 houses since 2001. Over the last 24 months the median price was $6,500 including buyer’s premium (middle half $4,322–$10,965, n=77). The auction record is $165,239 for Nenet nomads Siberia, Russia (2021, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nenet nomads Siberia, Russia, 2011 | Silver | $165,239 | Sotheby's | Nov 2021 |
| 2 | Serra Pelada, Gold Mine, Brazil, 2013 | Cartes-de-visite | $126,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2021 |
| 3 | The Eastern Part of the Brooks Range, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA | Gelatin silver print | $97,500 | Phillips | Apr 2015 |
| 4 | Tree of Life, 2022 | Archival inkjet print, framed | $94,500 | Sotheby's | Sep 2022 |
| 5 | The Eastern Part of the Brooks Range, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA, 2009 | Gelatin silver print, flush-mounted | $68,750 | Phillips | Apr 2014 |
| 6 | Iceberg Between Paulet Island and the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, 2005 | Gelatin silver print | $64,500 | Phillips | Apr 2026 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Mine, 1986 | Paris: Self-published, 2013-2014. Twenty selenium-toned silver prints | $129,000 | Phillips | Apr 2026 |
| 2 | Gold Mine, 2013-2014 | Paris: Self-published, 2013-2014. Twenty selenium-toned gelatin silver prints | $129,000 | Phillips | Oct 2026 |
| 3 | Southern Right Whale, Navigating in the Golfo Nuevo, Valdés Peninsula, Argentina, 2005 | Gelatin silver print, printed 2014 | $100,000 | Phillips | Oct 2017 |
| 4 | Iceberg Between the Paulet Islands and the Shetland Islands, Antarctica, 2005 | Gelatin silver print, flush-mounted | $68,611 | Phillips | May 2015 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 324 | $8,355 |
| Other | 61 | $6,240 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 30 | $43,750 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 197 | $9,450 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 141 | $4,500 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 411 results from 19 houses · How we compute these figures
Sebastião Salgado is a Brazilian artist with 500 auction lots recorded since 2001, median price $7,771. 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 Sebastião Salgado sold in 2026 for $129,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
4 Sebastião Salgado works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Sebastião Salgado free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Sebastião Salgado record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Sebastião Salgado on OpeningBid →What is a Sebastião Salgado work worth?
Across 411 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sebastião Salgado work is $7,771.
The median Sebastião Salgado photograph sells for $7,851 across 397 lots.
The median Sebastião Salgado print sells for $2,750 across 1 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Sebastião Salgado photographs typically sell for $6,345–$12,650 (the middle half of 199 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Sebastião Salgado photographs typically sell for $2,500–$7,500 (the middle half of 142 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 | $2,750 | $2,750 | — | 2023-02-23 |
| Photography | 440 | $7,851†‡ | $165,239 | 90.2% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 20 | $63,500 | $165,239 | — | 2026-10-08 |
† 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) | 142 | $2,500–$7,500†‡ | $4,530†‡ | $165,239 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 199 | $6,345–$12,650‡ | $9,450‡ | $32,500 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 31 | $33,685–$51,100‡ | $43,750‡ | $100,000 |
† 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 | 2021 | $165,239 |
| Photography | 2026 | $129,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $2,750 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Sebastião Salgado worth?
Across 411 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sebastião Salgado work is $7,771. The median Sebastião Salgado photograph sells for $7,851 across 397 lots. The median Sebastião Salgado print sells for $2,750 across 1 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Sebastião Salgado photographs typically sell for $6,345–$12,650 (the middle half of 199 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Sebastião Salgado photographs typically sell for $2,500–$7,500 (the middle half of 142 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 Sebastião Salgado photograph?
Based on 397 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sebastião Salgado photograph is $7,851. 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 Sebastião Salgado's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Sebastião Salgado photograph is $165,239.
What is the average price of a medium Sebastião Salgado photograph?
Based on 199 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Sebastião Salgado photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $9,450, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a small Sebastião Salgado photograph?
Based on 142 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Sebastião Salgado photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,530, 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 Sebastião Salgado's auction record?
Sebastião Salgado's auction record is $165,239, set in 2021.
See the full Sebastião Salgado record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Sebastião Salgado on OpeningBid →