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Robert Mapplethorpe

Robert Mapplethorpe

American · 1946–1989 · Painter, Sculptor

Robert Michael Mapplethorpe was an American photographer and artist. Best known for his black-and-white photographs, his work encompassed celebrity portraits, self-portraits,… (Wikipedia)

Own a work by Robert Mapplethorpe? Get a free auction estimate →

368lots offered2004–2026years recorded88%sold (321)$15.8kSign up free to seemedian price

1 work by Robert Mapplethorpe with an auction history (offered more than once) →

9 works by Robert Mapplethorpe coming up at auction · bid with the house ↓

Record prices

  1. Robert Mapplethorpe, Double Tiger Lily, 1977, Unique work, comprising two gelatin silver prints in artist's original silk overmats and frameDouble Tiger LilyPhillips · £297,000≈ $400,683≈ €340,109Sign up to see
  2. Robert Mapplethorpe, Man in Polyester Suit, 1980, Gelatin silver print, printed 1980Man in Polyester SuitPhillips · $355,600≈ £284,890≈ €326,209Sign up to see
  3. Robert Mapplethorpe, Tulips, 1977, Unique composition of two gelatin silver prints with gray and black silk overmats in artist's original frameTulipsPhillips · $298,000≈ £239,569≈ €279,786Sign up to see

Robert Mapplethorpe’s highest prices recorded at auction, ranked in US dollars at each sale-date exchange rate and shown in the currency of the sale (with the buyer’s premium where the house publishes it).

Coming up at auction

9 in forthcoming sales · bid with the house

Listed from the auction houses’ own websites; estimates are the houses’ own, not results.

ArtSell has recorded 364 auction results for Robert Mapplethorpe between 2004 and 2026, of which 321 sold (88%). A further 4 lots were offered at auction without a published result. Recorded sale prices range from $230Sign up free to see to $401kSign up free to see. The highest price recorded is $401kSign up free to see for Double Tiger Lily at Phillips in May 2018. The most common medium is photographs (327 lots). Most results come from Phillips (247), Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) (23) and Lempertz (18).

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  1. Robert Mapplethorpe, Self-Portrait, c. 1973, Polaroid
    Self-Portrait, c. 1973
    Photograph
    4½ h x 3¼ w in (11 x 8 cm)
    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · · Lot 112
    $8,960≈ £6,692≈ €7,808Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $4,000–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
  2. Robert Mapplethorpe, Erection, 1979, Gelatin silver print, printed
    Erection, 1979
    Photograph
    35 x 35.3 cm (50.4 x 40.3 cm)
    Lempertz · · Lot 654
    €10,795≈ $12,565≈ £9,330Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €6,000–8,000View at Lempertz ↗
  3. Robert Mapplethorpe, Self Portrait, 1980, Gelatin silver print
    Self Portrait, 1980
    Photograph · ed. 13/15
    35.5 x 35.5 cm (13 7/8 x 13 7/8 in)
    Phillips · · Lot 31
    £70,950≈ $96,095≈ €81,561Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £60,000–80,000View at Phillips ↗
  4. Robert Mapplethorpe, Self Portrait, 1980, gelatin silver print, mounted
    Self Portrait, 1980
    Photograph · ed. 3/15
    image 35.5 x 35.5 cm (13 7/8 x 13 7/8 in.) sheet 50.4 x 40.3 cm (19 7/8 x 15 7/8 in.) frame 74.8 x 74 cm (29 1/2 x 29 1/8 in.)
    Phillips · · Lot 32
    £70,950≈ $96,095≈ €81,561Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £60,000–80,000View at Phillips ↗
  5. Robert Mapplethorpe, Tulip, 1984, Gelatin silver print, printed 1984
    Tulip, 1984
    Photograph · ed. 4/10
    15 x 15 1/8 in. (38.1 x 38.4 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 186
    $11,610≈ £8,635≈ €9,914Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $12,000–18,000View at Phillips ↗
  6. Robert Mapplethorpe, Rose, 1987, Dye transfer print, flush-mounted
    Rose, 1987
    Photograph · ed. 5/7
    19 1/8 x 18 3/4 in. (48.6 x 47.6 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 194
    $20,640≈ £15,351≈ €17,624Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $12,000–18,000View at Phillips ↗
  7. Robert Mapplethorpe, Tulips, 1977, Gelatin silver print, printed 1977
    Tulips, 1977
    Photograph · ed. 3/3
    14 x 14 in. (35.6 x 35.6 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 197
    $49,020≈ £36,460≈ €41,858Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $25,000–35,000View at Phillips ↗
  8. Robert Mapplethorpe, Lydia, 1985, Gelatin silver print, printed 1985
    Lydia, 1985
    Photograph · ed. 6/10
    19 1/8 x 15 1/4 in. (48.6 x 38.7 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 26
    $25,800≈ £19,189≈ €22,031Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $20,000–30,000View at Phillips ↗
  9. Robert Mapplethorpe, Jack in the Pulpit, 1988, Gelatin silver print, printed 1988
    Jack in the Pulpit, 1988
    Photograph · ed. 6/10
    23 x 19 1/4 in. (58.4 x 48.9 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 56
    $45,150≈ £33,581≈ €38,553Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $30,000–50,000View at Phillips ↗
  10. Robert Mapplethorpe, Hyacinth, 1986-1987, Photogravure
    Hyacinth, 1986-1987
    Etching · ed. AP
    32 5/8 x 32 in. (82.9 x 81.3 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 57
    $51,600≈ £38,379≈ €44,061Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $20,000–30,000View at Phillips ↗
Also offered, result not published (4)

Lots by Robert Mapplethorpe that were offered at auction where the house did not publish whether they sold. Not counted in any statistics.

Robert Mapplethorpe works on paper (3)Robert Mapplethorpe prints (27)Robert Mapplethorpe etchings (21)Robert Mapplethorpe lithographs (3)Robert Mapplethorpe photographs (327)

Robert Mapplethorpe: quick facts

What is the highest price paid for a work by Robert Mapplethorpe at auction?

$400,683Sign up free to see, for Double Tiger Lily at Phillips (May 2018) — the highest price in ArtSell’s records.

What is a typical auction price for Robert Mapplethorpe?

The median sale price is $15.8kSign up free to see across 321 priced sales. Prices vary by medium, size and date — see the price chart & statistics.

How many works by Robert Mapplethorpe have sold at auction?

321 of 364 recorded lots sold between 2004 and 2026. 4 further lots were offered with no published result and are not counted.

Which auction houses sell Robert Mapplethorpe?

Phillips, Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) and Lempertz account for the most recorded results. Phillips · Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · Lempertz

Robert Mapplethorpe signature

287 catalogued lots by Robert Mapplethorpe record a signature line. The most common placement is in the margin (31% of lots that state a placement). Most often: signed.

Placement

  • in the margin11
  • on the reverse10
  • lower right9
  • lower left6

Form

  • signed254
  • signed and dated30
  • stamped signature1
  • initialled1
  • signed in pencil1
  • Signed ‘Robert Mapplethorpe’ by the artist, titled, numbered '3/10' and dated in another hand and copyright credit reproduction limitation stamp on the reverse — Orchid, Phillips, Jun 24, 2025
  • Signed and dated "1981 1981 2017 Michael Ward Stout" by Michael Ward Stout, Executor, and stamped with the artist's estate stamp on the reverse — Snakeman, Phillips, Dec 2, 2024
  • Signed, numbered and dated '3/15 Robert Mapplethorpe '80' in the margin; signed and dated '1980 Robert Mapplethorpe' in the copyright credit reproduction limita — Self Portrait, Phillips, Apr 16, 2026

Robert Mapplethorpe signature: all forms and examples →

About Robert Mapplethorpe

Robert Michael Mapplethorpe was an American photographer and artist. Best known for his black-and-white photographs, his work encompassed celebrity portraits, self-portraits, erotic photographs, and still lifes of flowers.

From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related artists — American, born 1921–1971

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