American, 1927–1995
Ray Johnson
178results on record
74%sell-through
$3,918median result (USD, incl. premium; 99% observed, 1% estimated from hammer)
$81,877record in our coverage
Drawn from 178 recorded results (142 sold · 36 passed) across 9 auction houses, 1999–2026. 3 upcoming lots on the ledger. What we cover
Median sold price by year typical estimate range median result USD, incl. premium; 99% observed, 1% estimated from hammer method · log scale
Where does a value land in this market?
The same figure also answers the seller's question: which house clears a work like this, and for how much — expected proceeds by house, from the sell-through the rest of this page is built on.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| works on paper | 38 | 100% | $7,038 |
| other | 8 | 60% | $7,736 |
| painting | 6 | 100% | $6,319 |
Medium is recorded for 52 of 178 results (29%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.
Compared with Andy Warhol Ray Johnson Andy Warhol
| Metric | Ray Johnson | Andy Warhol |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $3,918 | $32,500 |
| Record price | $81,877 | $195,040,000 |
| Results on record | 178 | 15,103 |
| Years active at auction | 1999–2026 | 1998–2026 |
Related artists: Andy WarholAlexander CalderClaes OldenburgSol Lewitt
Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method
68/ 100
- Sell-through74%
- Meets estimate47%
- Market depth178 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright | 77 | 65% | $1,250 | — |
| Christie's | 36 | 100% | $9,688 | — |
| Sotheby's | 26 | 94% | $5,713 | 1.02× |
| Rago | 14 | 93% | $3,000 | — |
| Phillips | 16 | 62% | $8,040 | — |
| Bonhams | 6 | 83% | $3,840 | 0.55× |
| Heritage Auctions | 4 | 100% | $5,125 | — |
| Freeman's | Hindman | 1 | 100% | $512 | 0.40× |
| Kruso Art | 1 | 100% | $1,640 | 0.60× |
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 184 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 36 passed lots
| Date | Lot | Medium | vs. estimate | Estimate USD | Result USD, incl. premium | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2026·05 | Untitled (Moticos Panel with Harlo) | $4,000–$6,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2026·03 | Dalí's House | $2,500–$3,500 | Rago | |||
| 2026·03 | Collection of fifteen works | $1,500–$2,000 | Rago | |||
| 2026·03 | Paper Box | $2,000–$3,000 | Rago | |||
| 2026·02 | Foot | $1,000–$1,500 | Christie's | |||
| 2026·02 | Untitled | $1,000–$1,500 | Wright | |||
| 2025·12 | Celestine | oil stain on canvas | $800–$1,200 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2025·12 | Untitled (June 13th) | $2,000–$3,000 | Rago | |||
| 2025·09 | Untitled (Moticos with RENNE CO) | $2,000–$3,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·07 | Untitled (Moticos Panel) | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·07 | Untitled (Black Moon) | cut paper and found paper collage on paperboard | $6,000–$8,000 | upcoming | Christie's | |
| 2025·06 | Network | Mixed media collage on cardboard | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·05 | Dalí's House | $4,000–$6,000 | Wright | |||
| 2025·04 | A great big boy | $3,412–$5,686 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·12 | Untitled (Ornaments Are Extra Lucky) | printed paper collage, gouache and ink collage on paperboard | $5,000–$7,000 | upcoming | Christie's | |
| 2024·10 | Untitled | $2,000–$3,000 | Rago | |||
| 2024·10 | Untitled | $800–$1,200 | Rago | |||
| 2024·10 | Untitled | $1,000–$1,500 | Rago | |||
| 2024·09 | i. Untitled Message; ii. Blue; iii. Black; iv. Ziggurat (White) [Four Works] | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·05 | Untitled (three works) | $700–$900 | Wright | |||
| 2024·04 | The Affairs of a Leading Lady paperback cover | Oil on board | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2024·02 | Untitled (Moticos Panel) | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·02 | Untitled (Portrait of Donna Deer) | $1,500–$2,500 | Wright | |||
| 2024·02 | Untitled (Dear Mr. Held) | $1,500–$2,500 | Wright | |||
| 2023·12 | Untitled | ink, spray paint, printed paper and cardboard collage on board | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2023·10 | Untitled (Skulls with 1940s Photo) 1974-1993 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·10 | Face Collage 1969-1994 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·10 | Untitled (Skulls with Fingers and Eyelash) circa 1985-1995 | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·09 | Little Sailors | $2,000–$3,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·06 | (1927 - 1995) | $1,640–$2,733 | Kruso Art | |||
| 2022·12 | Landscape (Cityscape with black orb) | $3,049–$4,268 | Phillips | |||
| 2021·12 | Untitled (Empire) | ink, printed paper collage, cardboard collage and false eyelashes on Masonite | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·12 | Untitled (Pink Model) | ink, printed paper collage, cardboard collage and false eyelashes on Masonite | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·12 | Untitled - All About Eve's Clamp | $9,235–$13,192 | Phillips | |||
| 2021·10 | Untitled | $2,000–$3,000 | Wright | |||
| 2021·09 | Untitled (Collage by Sherrie Levine) | Collage on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2021·05 | Untitled (Skeeter Davis) | $3,000–$5,000 | Rago | |||
| 2021·05 | Untitled | $2,000–$3,000 | Rago | |||
| 2021·05 | Untitled | $5,000–$7,000 | Rago | |||
| 2021·05 | The Marcel Duchamp Club | $3,000–$5,000 | Rago | |||
| 2021·03 | Untitled | $3,000–$5,000 | Rago | |||
| 2021·03 | Untitled | $5,000–$7,000 | Rago | |||
| 2021·02 | Ducham | $1,208–$2,417 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·02 | Untitled | $1,208–$2,417 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·02 | Collage by Ray Johnson, Fli-back | $121–$242 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·02 | collage by ray johnson, campbell soup | $121–$242 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·02 | Trees | $604–$846 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·02 | Fragile For Christo - Collage by Ray Johnson | $242–$363 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·02 | Untitled | $242–$363 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·02 | Interior | $1,208–$2,417 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·02 | Ernie Bushmiller - New fear | $2,417–$3,625 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·10 | hero rose | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·08 | Untitled (Greer Garson) | $6,000–$8,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2020·07 | Untitled | $7,000–$9,000 | Wright | |||
| 2020·07 | Untitled (B.B. is a Cool Ol Lady) | $1,000–$1,500 | Wright | |||
| 2020·06 | Born of Clay and Throne (or Two Seated Figures) (two works) | $1,000–$1,500 | Rago | |||
| 2020·04 | Untitled (Dr. Brute's Spit) | $300–$500 | Wright | |||
| 2020·04 | Torero | $2,000–$3,000 | Wright | |||
| 2019·10 | Lucky - Two Cut Out Lucky's with El Blanco Cuba Stamp | $3,000–$5,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·09 | Untitled (Greer Garson) | $12,000–$18,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·07 | Untitled (Pacific Telephone) | $500–$700 | Wright | |||
| 2019·06 | Dotted Andy with Snail | $4,000–$6,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·04 | Untitled (two works) | $700–$900 | Wright | |||
| 2019·04 | Untitled (three works) | $1,000–$1,500 | Wright | |||
| 2019·04 | Untitled (six works) | $2,000–$3,000 | Wright | |||
| 2019·04 | Untitled (three works) | $1,000–$1,500 | Wright | |||
| 2018·09 | Untitled (My Nephew) | $12,000–$18,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·09 | A. Warhol Profile with Not “F” OLD and Lewis Letter | $15,000–$20,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·08 | Untitled (collection of three works) | $500–$700 | Wright | |||
| 2018·07 | dear betsy baker, december 17, 1984 | $2,000–$3,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | Dusty Springfield | $600–$900 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Foot | $1,500–$2,500 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | collection of art and ephemera | $1,500–$2,000 | Wright | |||
| 2018·03 | Massage Ball, 1967 | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·03 | Waiting Figures | gouache, ink, printed paper and paper collage on board | $15,000–$20,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·03 | The Ice Falls on His Head | gouache, ink, printed paper and paper collage on board | $15,000–$20,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·01 | Untitled (collection of six works) | $1,000–$1,500 | Wright | |||
| 2018·01 | Untitled (collection of three works) | $1,000–$1,500 | Wright | |||
| 2017·12 | Untitled (Isak Dinesen) | oil, printed paper collage, string and cardboard collage on cardboard | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·11 | Vines | Mixed media with collage on board | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2017·11 | I Love a Lady Elephant | $3,000–$5,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·08 | Untitled (sixteen works) | $1,000–$1,500 | Wright | |||
| 2017·07 | Lucky - One Miniature Lucky with Caligula | printed paper collage, felt-tip pen and wire on cardboard | $4,000–$6,000 | upcoming | Christie's | |
| 2017·07 | Lucky - Two Lucky's with The Story of a Great Mammoth | printed paper collage and cardboard on paper | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·07 | Untitled (Dare Ray Johnson) | $500–$700 | Wright | |||
| 2017·07 | Untitled (Miss Size 12) | $500–$700 | Wright | |||
| 2017·07 | Untitled (News for you...) | $500–$700 | Wright | |||
| 2016·09 | Untitled (Antonio Gaudi) | $1,000–$1,500 | Wright | |||
| 2016·09 | Untitled (Richard C's Spit) | $700–$900 | Wright | |||
| 2016·09 | Untitled (Stardust Spit) | $500–$700 | Wright | |||
| 2016·09 | Untitled (Jean-Patrice Spit) | $700–$900 | Wright | |||
| 2016·09 | Untitled (Stanton Kreider's Spit) | $700–$900 | Wright | |||
| 2016·09 | Untitled (Psychosynthesis Spit) | $500–$700 | Wright | |||
| 2016·09 | Untitled (Moved) | $1,000–$1,500 | Wright | |||
| 2016·09 | Untitled (But I Do!) | $1,000–$1,500 | Wright | |||
| 2016·09 | Untitled (Image Bank) | $500–$700 | Wright | |||
| 2016·02 | Untitled (Dr. Brute's Spit) | $500–$700 | Wright | |||
| 2016·02 | Untitled (Pacific Telephone) | $1,000–$1,500 | Wright | |||
| 2016·02 | Untitled (Ringo and Theo) | $700–$900 | Wright | |||
| 2016·02 | Untitled (Dear Keith Haring) | $500–$700 | Wright | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.