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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $39, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2019·04 | Loriki with Spear, Africa, 1993 | gelatin silver print, flush-mounted on board | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·04 | Duo IV, Mexico, 1990 | gelatin silver print | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·02 | alek wek, los angeles, 1998 | $13,483–$20,225 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·12 | Rebecca De Mornay | $1,200–$1,800 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·12 | Brigitte Nielsen with Net, Malibu | $1,500–$2,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·11 | Fred with Tires I, Hollywood, 1984 | $5,770–$8,077 | Christie's | |||
| 2018·10 | Female Torso with Veil, Paradise Cove, California, 1984 | gelatin silver print | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·10 | Jo-ann, Deauville, France, Against Sky; and Against Wall 2 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·10 | Madonna, True Blue, Hollywood | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·06 | Mel Gibson, Hollywood | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Kashiro and Darati-Tight View, Africa | Platinum | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Consuelo- Face and Torso, Paradise Cove, California | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Neith with Tumbleweed, Paradise Cove | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Dan and Fred, Hollywood | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Richard Gere, the Cotton Club (Profile) | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Floating Torso, St. Barthélemy | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood | Gelatin silver, circa 1992 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Tatjana in Swimsuit, Hollywood | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Carrie in Sand (detail) | Platinum-palladium | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·05 | 'duo ii', los angeles, 1990 | $4,045–$6,742 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'female torso with veil, paradise cove' | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'stephanie, cindy, christy, tatjana, naomi, hollywood' | $50,000–$70,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | Cindy Crawford - Blonde Malibu | $10,000–$15,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Floating Torso, St. Barthelemy | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Tatjana Veiled Head (Tight View), Joshua Tree | $15,000–$25,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Alek Wek, Los Angeles, 1998 | gelatin silver print, mounted on board | $15,000–$20,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·04 | Wrapped Torso, 1989 | platinum print | $15,000–$25,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·01 | Karen, Los Angels | — | SBI Art Auction | |||
| 2017·11 | Madonna, True Blue, Hollywood, 1986 | $6,923–$9,231 | Christie's | |||
| 2017·11 | Jack Nicholson II, London, 1988 | $5,770–$8,077 | Christie's | |||
| 2017·11 | Wrestling Torsos, Hollywood | $6,742–$9,438 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Suspended Bubble, Los Angeles | Toned gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2017·10 | Tony, Black Torso, Los Angeles, 1986 | gelatin silver print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·10 | Headless Male Nude, Hollywood, 1988 | gelatin silver print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·10 | Three Male Torsos, Los Angeles | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·05 | Wrestling Torsos, Hollywood, 1987 | platinum-palladium print | $8,090–$10,787 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·05 | Elle Macpherson, Playboy, May 1994 | each variously annotated in red crayon (image) | $9,438–$12,135 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·05 | Waterfall II, Hollywood, 1988 | platinum-palladium print | $8,090–$10,787 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·05 | Backflip, Paradise Cove, California | $26,967–$40,450 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·04 | Duo VII, Los Angeles | — | SBI Art Auction | |||
| 2017·04 | Male Nude with Shell, Hawaii | — | SBI Art Auction | |||
| 2017·04 | Backflip, Paradise Cove, California | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·04 | Floating Torso, St. Barthélemy | $15,000–$20,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·02 | Suspended Bubble | — | SBI Art Auction | |||
| 2016·11 | „Stina & Cordula, Hollywood“. 1989 | Platinum print | $4,039–$6,346 | Grisebach | ||
| 2016·11 | „Wrestling Torsos, Hollywood“. 1987 | Platinum print | $3,462–$4,616 | Grisebach | ||
| 2016·11 | „Rachel with Shark, Hollywood“. 1989 | Gelatin silver print | $4,039–$6,346 | Grisebach | ||
| 2016·11 | Naomi Seated, Hollywood | $33,708–$47,192 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·10 | Versace, Veiled Dress, El Mirage | $15,000–$20,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·10 | Man Holding Shell, Australia | $7,000–$9,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·10 | Versace Dress, Back View, El Mirage | $100,000–$150,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·05 | Christy Turlington, Hollywood, 1988 | gelatin silver print, flush-mounted on board | $16,180–$24,270 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·05 | 'Veiled Male Nude, Full Length', 1985 | $4,045–$6,742 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·05 | 'Rachel Holding Sphere', 1989 | $8,090–$10,787 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·05 | Splash, Hollywood | $2,697–$4,045 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·05 | Versace, Veiled Dress, El Mirage | $13,483–$20,225 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·04 | Djimon with Octopus, Hollywood | $6,000–$8,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2016·04 | Dan and Fred, The Body Shop, Los Angeles | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2016·04 | Fred with Tires | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2016·04 | Djimon, Full Length, Hollywood | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2016·04 | Rachel Holding Sphere, Hollywood, 1989 | gelatin silver print | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·04 | Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood, 1989 | gelatin silver print, mounted on board | $50,000–$70,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·04 | Neith with Tumbleweed, Paradise Cove, 1968 | gelatin silver print | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·04 | Female Nude with Black Sand, Hawaii, 1989 | gelatin silver print | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·02 | 'Waterfalls II, Hollywood', 1988 | $5,770–$8,077 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2015·11 | Africa | New York, Bulfinch Press, 1994 | $288–$346 | Artcurial | ||
| 2015·11 | Male Nude with Bubble | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2015·11 | Mick Jagger 1, London 1987 | — | SBI Art Auction | |||
| 2015·10 | Fred with Tires I, Hollywood | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2015·10 | Fred with Tires II, Hollywood | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2015·10 | Tatjana Veiled Head, Tight View, Joshua Tree - 1988 | Tirage platine | $9,231–$11,539 | Artcurial | ||
| 2015·10 | Prince, Minneapolis | $5,000–$7,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2015·10 | Waterfall IV, Hollywood | $7,000–$9,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2015·10 | 'Woman in Sea' | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2015·07 | 'elizabeth taylor, malibu', 1991 | $4,616–$6,923 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2015·07 | 'nandoye and nangini hands joined, africa', 1993 | $2,308–$3,462 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2015·06 | Jack Nicholson II, London. 1988 | Gelatin silver print | $4,616–$6,923 | Grisebach | ||
| 2015·05 | 'draped woman', marrakech 1985 | $5,393–$8,090 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2015·05 | 'carrie in sand' (detail), paradise cove, 1988 | $10,787–$16,180 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2015·05 | Kate Moss 4, Malibu, 1994 | warm-toned gelatin silver print | $8,090–$10,787 | Christie's | ||
| 2015·05 | Kate Moss 2, Malibu, 1994 | warm-toned gelatin silver print | $8,090–$10,787 | Christie's | ||
| 2015·05 | Versace Dress, Back View, El Mirage | $94,383–$121,350 | Phillips | |||
| 2015·05 | Tatjana in Swimsuit, Hollywood | $4,045–$5,393 | Phillips | |||
| 2015·03 | Consuelo with Pine Branch, Paradise Cove, 1984 | gelatin silver print | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2015·03 | Clay Man on Mantle, Hollywood, 1989 | gelatin silver print | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2014·12 | Nangini Giant Fig Tree - Full View, Africa | $6,000–$8,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2014·11 | Splash, Hollywood | $4,045–$5,393 | Phillips | |||
| 2014·11 | Untitled, Nude IX, Miami, 1997 | $2,885–$4,039 | Christie's | |||
| 2014·11 | Duo I, Mexico, 1990 | $2,885–$4,039 | Christie's | |||
| 2014·11 | 'fred, backview with chain (body shop), hollywood', 1984 | $4,616–$6,923 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2014·10 | Duo VIII, Los Angeles | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2014·10 | Male Nude with Bubble, Los Angeles | $8,000–$10,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2014·10 | Jack Nicholson, Los Angeles | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2014·10 | Man with chain, Los Angeles | $6,000–$8,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2014·10 | Carrie in Sand (Detail), Paradise Cove | $10,000–$15,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2014·07 | Rachel Holding Sphere, Hollywood 1989 | $5,770–$8,077 | Christie's | |||
| 2014·05 | Tony with Rope, Los Angeles, 1986 | gelatin silver print | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2014·05 | Female Nude with Black Sand, Hawaii, 1989 | toned gelatin silver print | $7,000–$9,000 | Unsold listing | Christie's | |
| 2014·05 | Female Torso with Veil, Paradise Cove, California, 1984 | gelatin silver print | $15,000–$25,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2014·05 | Waterfall IV, Hollywood 1988 | platinum-palladium print | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | ||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $39, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.