What is a Theaster Gates work worth?
b. 1973 · Price guide from past auction results
Half of the 40 works by Theaster Gates with a published auction price sold between $14,597Sign up free to see and $48,932Sign up free to see, and the median is $33,871Sign up free to see. In the last five years the median was $35,560Sign up free to see across 21 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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Theaster Gates prices by medium
- Auction results
- 43
- Sold rate
- 93%
- Active at auction
- 2014–2026
- Median price
- $33.9kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $763kSign up free to see Dirty Red, Phillips, Jun 2021
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 13 | $15.1k–$33.8kSign up free to see | $21.3kSign up free to see |
| Prints | 4 | $1.2k–$1.5kSign up free to see | $1.2kSign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Phillips (37), Wright (3), Rago Auctions (2)
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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 | $3.2k–$5kSign up free to see | $4kSign up free to see |
| Large (75–150 cm) | 26 | $20.6k–$38kSign up free to see | $31.6kSign up free to see |
| Very large (over 150 cm) | 8 | $69.1k–$303kSign up free to see | $190kSign up free to see |
Recent Theaster Gates sales
- Stack 6901.16., white mixed concrete, wood and pulverized glass — $24,510Sign up free to see, Phillips, May 21, 2026
- 7200.22, fire hose, rubber and wood — $7,740Sign up free to see, Phillips, Feb 24, 2026
- Complicated gape in need of reflective paint, wood, tar, roofing felt and copper nails — $70,950Sign up free to see, Phillips, Nov 21, 2025
- From time to time these Hot Days get Lonely, decommissioned fire hose on panel — $381,257Sign up free to see, Phillips, Oct 18, 2025
- Ranch Style with Sumi Sky, sumi ink, acrylic and mixed media on wood construction — $48,260Sign up free to see, Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA), May 30, 2025
- cool gray study. no flame, wood, roofing substrate and tar — $63,500Sign up free to see, Phillips, Nov 20, 2024
- Ebony Vitrine, wood, Plexiglas, magazine pages and light — $38,100Sign up free to see, Phillips, Sep 25, 2024
- Creamy Rich Sky, Asphalt Horizon Roll, wood, rubber, tar and metal — $203,200Sign up free to see, Phillips, Sep 25, 2024
Questions about Theaster Gates prices
What is a Theaster Gates work worth?
Based on 40 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by Theaster Gates have sold for a median of $33,871, and half of them sold between $14,597 and $48,932. 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 Theaster Gates sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $763,168 for “Dirty Red” at Phillips in June 2021.
Which Theaster Gates medium sells for the most?
By median price, sculpture lead with $21,250 (13 sales).
How often do Theaster Gates works sell at auction?
93% of the 43 lots recorded between 2014 and 2026 sold.
How can I sell a Theaster Gates work?
Request a free auction estimate on ArtSell: send photos and details, and our specialists will reply with an estimate. There is no obligation.
ArtSell has recorded 43 auction results for Theaster Gates between 2014 and 2026, and 40 of them sold (93%).
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