A Buyer's Guide to Bridget Riley

Riley employs a striking interplay of colours, patterns, and shapes to create the dynamic optical illusions that define her work. Since the 1960s, her innovative approach has remained popular and continues to be a significant style and period in art history. Today, Riley's paintings and prints have become increasingly rare, making only occasional appearances at public auctions. Over the past decade, the scarcity of Riley's works at auction has heightened their appeal and demand. In 2022, a record year for the art market, five of her paintings were sold, while in 2023, only three appeared at auction. Although Riley’s prints are more accessible than her paintings, they too have seen a decline in sales volume over the years, though their value and demand has remained steady. Most recently, at Phillips' June edition sale in 2024, Riley's Untitled, Oval Image, a rare monochrome work from 1964, made its first appearance since 2010 and set a new auction record for Riley's highest-valued print, achieving £82,550 with fees.

Riley's prints are highly sought after in the art market and come in a variety of colours, scale, and edition numbers, representing different periods of her artistic career from the 1960s through the 2020s. Unlike many artists, Riley's prints are not scaled-down reproductions of her paintings but stand as independent artworks in their own right. This unique approach ensures that each print edition is distinct, enhancing its collectability and appeal. This independence makes Riley's prints particularly valuable for collectors seeking unique and original pieces.

In a recent podcast, Jasper Tordoff, MyArtBroker sales specialist and Riley expert, highlighted the increasing scarcity of Riley's printed editions, emphasising their rarity and the corresponding rise in value within the print market. Jasper describes the conceptual nature of Riley's aesthetic, noting its complex execution paired with a simplistic appeal. With prices typically ranging from £8,000 to £80,000, Riley prints attract both new and seasoned collectors, catering to a wide range of budgets.

In 2023, the Riley print market achieved sales exceeding £660,000 from 61 works sold, just 3% lower than the previous year. However, the number of sales was 13% fewer, indicating that the average value of Riley prints has remained strong, reflecting sustained collector demand. Her prints, particularly rare editions in excellent condition, offer an accessible entry point for collectors, with values steadily increasing. Riley's works are frequently traded on the private market and offered at prestigious events like the London Art Fair. Simon Shore from Simon Shore Gallery highlights the significance of Riley as an important name in the art world, further boosting her desirability. As her works become increasingly scarce at auction, their market remains robust, with Riley's influence in art history firmly established.

Riley's current print market sees works selling between £4,000 and £80,000. Complete sets are rare, but in 2023, the Dominance set–Green Dominance, Blue Dominance, Red Dominance–appeared for the first time since 2020, setting a new auction record of £70,854 at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Chicago. This record was surpassed in 2024 when a rare monochrome print, one of Riley's earliest, sold for £82,550 at Phillips' June editions sale, highlighting the continued relevance and demand for Riley's prints.

The pricing of a Riley print can vary significantly depending on factors like size, series, year, rarity, edition size, condition, and provenance. While the value of Riley's works continues to rise, the average selling price increasing from £20,000 in 2015 to £36,000 in 2023, many pieces are still available for under £50,000. What’s particularly notable about Riley's market is its breadth; high-value prints are not only sold at the three main auction houses but also at global venues and in the private market. Over the past decade, a substantial share of Riley's market value has been driven by auction houses beyond Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips, offering collectors diverse opportunities to acquire her works.

Riley's print market is unique, reflecting the evolution of her style through various periods, from monochrome prints to vibrant colours, straight lines to waves, and lozenges. Here are some of her most anticipated works for 2024.

1. Firebird: Firebird is one of Riley's larger-scale works, featuring vertical bands of colour separated by white spaces that enhance the depth and dimension of the optical pattern. Despite its higher sales volume over the past five years, the artwork has continued to appreciate in value, a testament to the enduring cultural significance of Riley's body of work.
2. Untitled (Based On Blaze): This monochrome early work, created in 1965, is similar in colour and design to Riley's Fragment pieces, though it belongs to a collection called Movement. Unlike the Fragment works, which are printed on plexiglass, this piece was produced in a small edition of 50 on wove paper. It is extremely rare, having only appeared once in the last five years, when it sold for £40,000 at Christie’s in March 2024. Given its scarcity, another appearance on the market would likely command a premium, making it one to watch.
3. Rose Horizontal: Rose Horizontal, part of Riley's Stripes series, exemplifies the trending works that ranked second in lots sold and first in sales value in 2023. As noted by our sales specialist Jasper, larger-scale, coloured pieces like this one, measuring 60 x 100 cm, are in high demand. Its rarity further enhances its appeal, having appeared at auction only once in 2023, where it achieved £14,080, setting a new auction record for the piece.

When purchasing a print, the most crucial considerations should be your personal taste and the satisfaction the artwork adds to your collection. For insights into Riley's most investable prints in 2023, refer to our Bridget Riley Market Watch and 2024 Investment Guide.

The Bridget Riley Foundation, established in 2011, is a registered charity dedicated to supporting and promoting the visual arts and preserving Riley's legacy in the art world. Like many foundations for blue chip artists, The Bridget Riley Foundation does not authenticate artworks. The most reliable resource for verifying and tracing provenance is the Bridget Riley: Complete Prints 1962-2012 catalogue raisonné, which lists her print works created over sixty years.

When purchasing a Riley print, thorough research is essential. Begin by identifying the galleries that represent Riley, such as Cristea Roberts, David Zwirner, Max Hetzler, Sprüth Magers, and others. The artwork you are considering should have a provenance trail that likely traces back to one of these reputable galleries, accompanied by an authentic purchase receipt. Ensure that the title and edition number on the print match the original receipt. If the print remains in its original frame, it's advisable to inspect the back for any stickers or labels from the gallery where it was initially sold. This careful approach helps confirm the legitimacy and history of the artwork, a crucial step for buyers navigating the art market.

Riley's prints, typically produced on high-quality wove paper, are noted for their durability. However, it's essential to carefully assess the condition of a Riley print before purchasing, as any damage can greatly affect its value and potential return on investment. This is especially true for her earlier prints from the 1960s, such as those in her Fragment and Movement series, which were not originally intended for commercial sale and may exhibit signs of wear or damage.

As highlighted in our Collecting Bridget Riley podcast episode, while prints in excellent condition tend to command higher prices, there's value in acquiring prints with minor condition issues if they are priced accordingly, as these imperfections can add a unique character to the piece and also offer a range of affordability. When evaluating a print, be on the lookout for potential damage such as tears, scratches, foxing (brown spots from iron or mould spores), fading, yellowing from light exposure, or warping from humidity changes.

If you have questions about the condition of a Riley print, MyArtBroker is here to assist. We have the network to connect you with a professional restorer for expert recommendations. For further insights, refer to MyArtBroker's Guide to Restoring and Caring for Modern and Contemporary Prints.