Rachel Whiteread Auction Prices and Value Guide
Rachel Whiteread auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 345 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Rachel Whiteread auction prices: quick answer
Rachel Whiteread auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Rachel Whiteread
- Source records
- 345
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About Rachel Whiteread
Rachel Whiteread (born 1963, London) is a British sculptor and installation artist recognised for casting the negative spaces of everyday objects and architectural interiors. Working with industrial materials such as plaster, concrete, resin, rubber, and metal, Whiteread transforms familiar domestic forms — floors, rooms, hot water bottles, furniture — into solid sculptural presences that make the invisible tangible. She studied painting at Brighton Polytechnic before completing her MA in sculpture at the Slade School of Fine Art in London (1985–1987). In 1993 she became the first woman to receive the Turner Prize, cementing her position as a leading figure in contemporary British art. Her major public commissions include the Holocaust Memorial in Vienna's Judenplatz and the fourth plinth commission in Trafalgar Square. Whiteread was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to art. Her work is held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (New York), Tate (London), and numerous international institutions.
Contemporary British SculptureYoung British Artists (YBA)Cast sculpture (plaster, concrete, resin, rubber, metal)Installation artPhotographyDrawingNegative space and architectural castsEveryday domestic objects (furniture, hot water bottles, mattresses)
Common works and media
Collectors and appraisers most frequently encounter Whiteread's work in cast plaster, resin, rubber, and concrete, often depicting domestic objects such as floors, tables, chairs, mattresses, and hot water bottles. Architectural casts of entire rooms and building interiors represent her most ambitious projects. Editioned bronze and resin multiples exist alongside unique sculptures, and she also produces drawings, photographs, and works on paper. Public commissions in concrete and resin, including memorial and site-specific installations, form a distinct category. Provenance documentation, edition numbering, and material identification are essential for accurate appraisal of any Whiteread work.
Market and appraisal context
Rachel Whiteread's work appears at auction primarily within Post-War and Contemporary Art sales. Key valuation factors include the scale and material of a given piece — large architectural casts and unique bronzes command significantly higher prices than smaller editioned works in plaster or resin. Provenance linking a work to a notable exhibition or institutional collection can substantially affect its market position. Her status as a Turner Prize winner with deep museum holdings supports sustained collector interest. Editioned casts, maquettes, and works on paper trade in a different range from unique large-scale sculptures. Appraisals should account for edition size, date of execution, condition, exhibition history, and comparable public auction results for works of similar medium and dimension.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Post-War and Contemporary Art
- Contemporary Sculpture
Value drivers
- Medium and scale: large architectural casts and public commissions command premium over smaller editions
- Material: works in bronze, concrete, and resin are distinguished from plaster maquettes and editioned pieces
- Provenance and exhibition history: institutional exhibition record and major public commissions enhance value
- Turner Prize winner status and museum holdings (MoMA, Tate, Guggenheim) affect collector demand
Appraisal caveats
- Editioned casts and prints exist alongside unique sculptures; edition size and material materially affect appraisal
- No specific auction price records are available in the current source pack; valuation should reference verified public auction results
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
Data basis
This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.
Artist value FAQ
How much is Rachel Whiteread worth?
Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.
Can Appraisily value my Rachel Whiteread artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.