What is a Sterling Ruby work worth?
b. 1972 · Price guide from past auction results
Half of the 138 works by Sterling Ruby with a published auction price sold between $10,760Sign up free to see and $73,988Sign up free to see, and the median is $28,413Sign up free to see. In the last five years the median was $17,145Sign up free to see across 48 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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Sterling Ruby prices by medium
- Auction results
- 161
- Sold rate
- 86%
- Active at auction
- 2009–2026
- Median price
- $28.4kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $966kSign up free to see SP83, Phillips, Oct 2013
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 57 | $33.2k–$293kSign up free to see | $105kSign up free to see |
| Sculpture | 29 | $11.4k–$40kSign up free to see | $26.8kSign up free to see |
| Works on Paper | 26 | $9.1k–$22.8kSign up free to see | $17.7kSign up free to see |
| Prints | 16 | $2.7k–$14.8kSign up free to see | $8.1kSign up free to see |
| Photographs | 2 | $1.4k–$3.3kSign up free to see | $2.3kSign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Phillips (138), Rago Auctions (10), Wright (7)
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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) | 7 | $2.4k–$10.9kSign up free to see | $3.8kSign up free to see |
| Mid-size (30–75 cm) | 39 | $7.3k–$28.8kSign up free to see | $11.4kSign up free to see |
| Large (75–150 cm) | 24 | $13.1k–$51.1kSign up free to see | $19.5kSign up free to see |
| Very large (over 150 cm) | 68 | $28.3k–$180kSign up free to see | $64.7kSign up free to see |
Recent Sterling Ruby sales
- BC (3627), collage, paint, bleach, glue and found textiles on wood — $51,600Sign up free to see, Phillips, Sep 26, 2026
- REIF. 7238., paint on wood — $13,641Sign up free to see, Phillips, Jun 26, 2026
- Ashtray, glazed ceramic — $2,048Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Jun 24, 2026
- Absolute Contempt for Total Serenity #3, collage on paper — $967Sign up free to see, Phillips, Jun 24, 2026
- Alabaster SR11-55, acrylic, in artist's frame — $37,507Sign up free to see, Phillips, Jun 23, 2026
- Chinati Flag (DNM), treated denim — $1,280Sign up free to see, Rago Auctions, May 1, 2026
- EXHM/DS3, collage and urethane on cardboard, in artist's frame — $11,164Sign up free to see, Phillips, Mar 3, 2026
- Alabaster SR08-3, cast acrylic — $70,950Sign up free to see, Phillips, Feb 28, 2026
Questions about Sterling Ruby prices
What is a Sterling Ruby work worth?
Based on 138 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by Sterling Ruby have sold for a median of $28,413, and half of them sold between $10,760 and $73,988. 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 Sterling Ruby sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $965,868 for “SP83” at Phillips in October 2013.
Which Sterling Ruby medium sells for the most?
By median price, paintings lead with $105,000 (57 sales).
How often do Sterling Ruby works sell at auction?
86% of the 161 lots recorded between 2009 and 2026 sold.
How can I sell a Sterling Ruby work?
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 161 lots by Sterling Ruby recorded at auction between 2009 and 2026, 138 found a buyer (86%).
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