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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)

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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).

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  1. Robert Mapplethorpe, David Hockney, 1976, gelatin silver print
    David Hockney, 1976
    Photograph · ed. 2/5
    19 3/4 x 15 3/4 in. (50.2 x 40 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 176
    $16,510≈ £13,100≈ €15,858Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $15,000–25,000View at Phillips ↗
  2. Robert Mapplethorpe, Thomas, 1986, vintage gelatin silver print
    Thomas, 1986
    Photograph
    19¼ h x 19¼ w in (49 x 49 cm)
    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · · Lot 172
    $5,670≈ £4,455≈ €5,405Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $6,000–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
  3. Robert Mapplethorpe, Orchid with Palmetto Leaf, 1982, gelatin silver print
    Orchid with Palmetto Leaf, 1982
    Photograph
    15⅛ h x 15⅛ w in (38 x 38 cm)
    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · · Lot 178
    $6,550≈ £5,147≈ €6,243Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $5,000–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
  4. Robert Mapplethorpe, Portrait of Ashton Hawkins, 1985, gelatin silver print
    Portrait of Ashton Hawkins, 1985
    Photograph
    9⅞ h x 9⅞ w in (25 x 25 cm)
    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · · Lot 179
    $1,512≈ £1,188≈ €1,441Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $2,000–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
  5. Robert Mapplethorpe, Snakeman, 1981, gelatin silver print
    Snakeman, 1981
    Photograph · ed. 15/15
    image 18 x 14 in. (45.7 x 35.6 cm) sheet 20 x 15 7/8 in. (50.8 x 40.3 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 135
    $19,050≈ £15,030≈ €18,131Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $6,000–8,000View at Phillips ↗
  6. Robert Mapplethorpe, Lisa Lyon, 1982, Gelatinesilberabzug
    Lisa Lyon, 1982
    Photograph
    48,5 x 38,5cm
    Van Ham · · Lot 660
    €7,920≈ $8,341≈ £6,605Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €6,000–View at Van Ham ↗
  7. Robert Mapplethorpe, Tulip, 1982, Gelatin silver print, mounted
    Tulip, 1982
    Photograph · ed. 6/10
    38.5 x 38.5 cm (15 1/8 x 15 1/8 in.)
    Phillips · · Lot 17
    £17,780≈ $22,474≈ €21,351Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £10,000–15,000View at Phillips ↗
  8. Robert Mapplethorpe, Thomas and Tara, 1986, Gelatin silver print
    Thomas and Tara, 1986
    Photograph · ed. 8/10
    58.4 x 48.7 cm (22 7/8 x 19 1/8 in.)
    Phillips · · Lot 18
    £10,160≈ $12,842≈ €12,200Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £7,000–9,000View at Phillips ↗
  9. Robert Mapplethorpe, Eggplant, 1985, Platinum-palladium print
    Eggplant, 1985
    Photograph · ed. 2/3
    49 x 49.5 cm (19 1/4 x 19 1/2 in.)
    Phillips · · Lot 39
    £38,100≈ $48,158≈ €45,752Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £30,000–50,000View at Phillips ↗
  10. Robert Mapplethorpe, Baby's Breath, gelatin silver print
    Baby's Breath
    Photograph · ed. 1/10
    sight: approx 15"h, 15 1/8"w
    Austin Auction Gallery · · Lot 1170
    $21,000≈ £16,217≈ €19,495HammerSign up free to seeEst. $6,000–15,000View at Austin Auction Gallery ↗
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 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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