American, 1952–2002
Herb Ritts
465results on record
83%sell-through
$6,404median result (USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer)
$246,221record in our coverage
Drawn from 465 recorded results (417 sold · 48 passed) across 16 auction houses, 1998–2026. 5 upcoming lots on the ledger. What we cover
Median sold price by year typical estimate range median result USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer method · log scale
Where does a value land in this market?
Every sold result for this market, low to high (log scale) — the dashed line is the median. Enter a value to see where it lands.
By medium where medium is recorded or stated in the catalog line
| Medium | Results | Sell-through | Median result (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| photography | 259 | 89% | $7,560 |
| sculpture | 19 | 76% | $6,300 |
| works on paper | 6 | n/a | $8,847 |
| other | 5 | 67% | $11,222 |
Medium is recorded for 289 of 465 results (62%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.
Compared with Robert Mapplethorpe Herb Ritts Robert Mapplethorpe
| Metric | Herb Ritts | Robert Mapplethorpe |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $6,404 | $15,000 |
| Record price | $246,221 | $726,348 |
| Results on record | 465 | 1,490 |
| Years active at auction | 1998–2026 | 1998–2026 |
Related artists: Robert MapplethorpeHorst P. HorstIrving PennHenri Cartier-bresson
Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method
77/ 100
- Sell-through83%
- Meets estimate59%
- Market depth465 results
How readily and near-estimate this market clears — sell-through, estimate reliability, and depth, blended into one score. "Meets estimate" is the share of sold lots hammering at or above the low estimate, over catalogs that print a real appraisal: a house whose printed low is a starting bid would meet its estimate on every lot, so those lots are excluded from this term only — their prices and outcomes still count in the other two. Method →
Where this artist sells best
| House | Results | Sell-through | Median | vs. estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christie's | 147 | 95% | $8,750 | — |
| Bonhams | 77 | 87% | $5,211 | 0.83× |
| Heritage Auctions | 70 | 86% | $3,188 | — |
| Sotheby's | 68 | 66% | $9,301 | 0.80× |
| Phillips | 61 | 80% | $10,160 | — |
| SBI Art Auction | 9 | 100% | $2,802 | — |
| Rago | 8 | 100% | $3,539 | — |
| Grisebach | 7 | — | $6,647 | — |
| Wright | 7 | 86% | $5,100 | — |
| Artcurial | 2 | — | $9,580 | 1.36× |
| Chiswick Auctions | 2 | 100% | $2,367 | — |
| Sala Retiro | 3 | 67% | $264 | — |
| Lempertz | 2 | 0% | $2,143 | — |
| Lyon & Turnbull | 1 | — | $3,768 | 0.96× |
| Finarte | 1 | 0% | — | — |
| VAN HAM Kunstauktionen GmbH Co. KG | 1 | 0% | — | — |
The same artist across every house we cover — hammer-vs-estimate side by side. A dash in the estimate column can mean withheld rather than unpublished: the house publishes no hammer price, or its printed low is a starting bid rather than an appraisal. Method →
Prices realized 471 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 48 passed lots
| Date | Lot | Medium | vs. estimate | Estimate USD | Result USD, incl. premium | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $39, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2026·07 | 'Karen' | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·07 | Paul, Torso | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·06 | Richard Gere, San Bernadino | $4,000–$6,000 | Wright | |||
| 2026·06 | Male Nude, Horizontal, Los Angeles | $3,000–$5,000 | Wright | |||
| 2026·06 | Male Nude, Horizontal, Los Angeles | $3,000–$5,000 | Rago | |||
| 2026·06 | Male Nude with Bubble, Los Angeles | $4,000–$6,000 | Rago | |||
| 2026·06 | Richard Gere, San Bernadino | $4,000–$6,000 | Rago | |||
| 2026·06 | Male Nude with Bubble, Los Angeles | $4,000–$6,000 | Wright | |||
| 2026·06 | '"Duo VII", Los Angeles' | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·06 | '"Bob Paris", Paradise Cove' | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·05 | Nicole Kidman, Culver City, 1999 | — | Chiswick Auctions | |||
| 2026·05 | Mel Gibson, Hollywood, 1985 | — | Chiswick Auctions | |||
| 2026·04 | Rachel Holding Sphere, Hollywood | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2026·03 | '"Three Male Torsos"' | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·03 | Fred with Tires | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·03 | Tatjana with Black Sand, Hawaii, 1987 | $4,045–$6,742 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·02 | '"William S. Burroughs", Kansas' | $1,200–$1,800 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·12 | Tony and Mimi III | $1,500–$2,500 | Wright | |||
| 2025·12 | Tony and Mimi III | $1,500–$2,500 | Rago | |||
| 2025·11 | Francesco Clemente | $1,000–$1,500 | Rago | |||
| 2025·08 | Three Male Torsos, Los Angeles (from The Year of Tibet Portfolio II) | Platinum palladium print, printed 1990 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·08 | Three Male Torsos (from The Year of Tibet Portfolio II) | $2,500–$3,500 | Wright | |||
| 2025·08 | Three Male Torsos (from The Year of Tibet Portfolio II) | $2,500–$3,500 | Rago | |||
| 2025·05 | Mel Gibson, Hollywood | $1,731–$2,308 | Lempertz | |||
| 2025·04 | Male Nude (Detail) | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·04 | Carol Channing and Pee-Wee Herman | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·04 | Madonna, Tokyo | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·04 | Female Torso with Veil, Paradise Cove, California, 1984 | gelatin silver print | $15,000–$20,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2025·04 | Tony with Rope, Los Angeles, 1986 | gelatin silver print | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2025·04 | Tatiana in Swimsuit, Hollywood, 1989 | gelatin silver print | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2025·04 | Naomi Seated, Hollywood | $67,416–$94,383 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·04 | Helena, Hollywood | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·04 | Stephanie, Cindy, Tatjana, Naomi 2, Hollywood | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·04 | Cindy Crawford 3, Costa Careyes | $6,000–$8,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·04 | Christy in White 3, Los Angeles | $6,000–$8,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·04 | Cindy Crawford - Profile, Los Angeles (A) | $5,000–$7,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·03 | '"Tony and Brian" in Sand, Paradise Cove' | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·03 | '"Curved Torso," Hollywood' | $2,500–$3,500 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·03 | '"Jump", Paradise Cove' | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·12 | Madonna, New York City | $4,079–$5,354 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·11 | Jack Nicholson I-IV | $23,078–$28,848 | VAN HAM Kunstauktionen GmbH Co. KG | |||
| 2024·11 | '"Correya", Africa' | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·11 | '"Male Nude - Silverlake Frontal"' | $1,500–$2,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·11 | '"Duo"' | $1,200–$1,800 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·11 | '"Male Nude" Backview Silverlake' | $1,500–$2,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·11 | Djimon with Octopus, Hollywood | $11,539–$17,308 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·10 | Correya, Africa | — | SBI Art Auction | |||
| 2024·10 | Male Nude with Bubble | $1,500–$2,500 | Rago | |||
| 2024·10 | Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood | $100,000–$150,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·10 | Sea, Hollywood | Oversized gelatin silver print on linen | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2024·10 | Mimi and Tony, Front View, Los Angeles | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2024·10 | Male Nude with Bubble, Los Angeles | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2024·10 | Dan and Fred, The Body Shop, Los Angeles | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2024·10 | Male Nude, Horizontal, Los Angeles | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2024·10 | Man with Chain, Los Angeles | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2024·07 | '"Loriki with Spear", Africa' | $6,000–$8,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·07 | '"Correya", Africa' | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·06 | Fred - "Back View" | $3,462–$5,770 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·06 | "Headless Male Nude" - Front View | $6,923–$10,385 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·06 | Djimon with Octopus, Hollywood | $4,616–$6,923 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·06 | Male Nude with Bubble | $3,462–$5,770 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·05 | Female Torso Detail, Hollywood | $5,393–$8,090 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·05 | Consuelo, Paradise Cove | $4,045–$6,742 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·05 | Maasai Woman and Child, Africa | $5,393–$8,090 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·04 | K.D. Lang | Toned gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2024·04 | 'Backflip, Paradise Cove' | $30,000–$50,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·04 | '"Eona" Holding Zebra Skull, Africa' | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·03 | Female Figure, Back View | $6,000–$10,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·02 | Keith Haring I, New York 1987 | gelatin silver print | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2024·01 | Primera edición de reportaje de 42 fotografías en blanco y | — | Sala Retiro | |||
| 2024·01 | Madonna, Tokyo | — | SBI Art Auction | |||
| 2023·12 | Agnes Martin, Galisteo | $2,500–$3,500 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·12 | Keith Haring, New York | $3,000–$5,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·12 | Francesco Clemente, New York | $3,000–$5,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·11 | Waterfall Torso | $4,045–$6,742 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·11 | Libro de fotografías Álbum de 42 fotografías | — | Sala Retiro | |||
| 2023·11 | Neith with Shadows, Rear View, Pound Ridge, New York | $5,393–$8,090 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·10 | K.D. Lang | Toned gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·10 | Fred with Tires (The Body Shop), Los Angeles, California | Gelatin silver print on Agfa paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·10 | Stefano Seated, Milan | Platinum print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·10 | Rebecca De Morna | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·10 | 'Suspended Bubble, Los Angeles' | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·10 | 'Female Figure, Back View, Hollywood' | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·06 | Djimon - 3/4 Nude, Hollywood | Platinum print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·06 | Djimon - Full Length, Hollywood | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·06 | Brigitte Nielsen with Netting, Malibu | $6,742–$9,438 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·06 | Loriki with Spear, Africa, 1993 | $6,923–$9,231 | Christie's | |||
| 2023·06 | Rachel Holding Sphere, Hollywood | $3,462–$4,616 | Lempertz | |||
| 2023·05 | Cindy Crawford - Blonde, Malibu | $10,787–$16,180 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·05 | Female Torso Detail, Hollywood | $8,090–$10,787 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·05 | Floating Torso, St. Barthelemy | $13,483–$20,225 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·04 | Wrestling Torsos, Hollywood | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·04 | Madonna (True Blue Profile), Los Angeles, California | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·04 | Three Male Nudes - Standing, Los Angeles, California | Toned gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·04 | Fred with Tires (The Body Shop), Los Angeles, California | Gelatin silver print on Agfa paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2023·03 | Backflip, Paradise Cove, 1987 | gelatin silver print | $30,000–$50,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·12 | Male Torso with Veil (Full Length), Silverlake | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·12 | Wrestling Torsos, Hollywood | $6,000–$9,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·11 | Correya, Africa | $5,393–$8,090 | Phillips | |||
| 2022·11 | 'Mick Jagger, London' | $5,770–$8,077 | Sotheby's | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $39, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.