What is a Ruth Orkin photograph worth?
1921–1985 · Price guide from past auction results
Half of the 43 works by Ruth Orkin with a published auction price sold between $2,816Sign up free to see and $9,636Sign up free to see, and the median is $4,445Sign up free to see. For photographs alone, the median is $4,410Sign up free to see across 42 sales. In the last five years the median was $3,735Sign up free to see across 20 sales. These are past auction results, not a valuation: medium, size, condition and provenance all change what a particular work brings.
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Ruth Orkin prices by medium
- Auction results
- 56
- Sold rate
- 77%
- Active at auction
- 2007–2026
- Median price
- $4.4kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $40.3kSign up free to see American Girl in Italy, Grisebach, Nov 2007
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 42 | $2.8k–$9.7kSign up free to see | $4.4kSign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Phillips (37), Grisebach (4), Lempertz (4)
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Typical range is the middle half of priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). Past auction results, not a valuation.
Prices by size
| Size (longest side) | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 30 cm) | 4 | $2k–$3.8kSign up free to see | $2.5kSign up free to see |
| Mid-size (30–75 cm) | 36 | $3k–$10.1kSign up free to see | $4.4kSign up free to see |
Recent Ruth Orkin sales
- Man in Rain, W. 88th St., N.Y.C., Gelatin silver print, printed later — $3,354Sign up free to see, Phillips, Apr 11, 2026
- Holiday Lights at Tavern-on-the Green, Central Park and 5th Ave., Chromogenic print — $2,838Sign up free to see, Phillips, Apr 11, 2026
- American Girl in Italy, Gelatin silver print — $14,080Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Apr 9, 2026
- American Girl in Italy, Florence, gelatin silver print — $7,920Sign up free to see, Rago Auctions, Nov 4, 2025
- Boy & Fence, Central Park Reservoir, Gelatin silver print, printed later — $3,870Sign up free to see, Phillips, Oct 9, 2025
- American Girl in Italy, Florence, Gelatin silver print, printed later — $16,510Sign up free to see, Phillips, Apr 2, 2025
- Tired Little Boy Outside Circus at Madison Square Garden, gelatin silver print — $1,100Sign up free to see, Brunk Auctions, Dec 3, 2024
- American Girl in Italy, Florence, Italy, Mural-sized gelatin silver print, printed 1980 — $9,525Sign up free to see, Phillips, Oct 9, 2024
Questions about Ruth Orkin prices
What is a Ruth Orkin photograph worth?
Based on 43 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by Ruth Orkin have sold for a median of $4,445, and half of them sold between $2,816 and $9,636. For photographs alone the median is $4,410 (42 sales). Medium, size, condition, subject and provenance all affect the price of a particular work; these are past auction results, not a valuation.
What is the most expensive work by Ruth Orkin sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $40,338 for “American Girl in Italy” at Grisebach in November 2007.
How often do Ruth Orkin works sell at auction?
77% of the 56 lots recorded between 2007 and 2026 sold.
How can I sell a Ruth Orkin photograph?
Request a free auction estimate on ArtSell: send photos and details, and our specialists will reply with an estimate. There is no obligation.
Of the 56 lots by Ruth Orkin recorded at auction between 2007 and 2026, 43 found a buyer (77%).
Sell a Ruth Orkin photographAll Ruth Orkin auction resultsPrice chartRuth Orkin photographsFree auction estimate