> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ai-weiwei · updated 2026-11-02

# Ai Weiwei (b. 1957)

## What is Ai Weiwei’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 682 auction results for Ai Weiwei at 58 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,217 including buyer’s premium (middle half $998–$7,097, n=102). The auction record is $5,409,368 for Circle of Animals / Zodiac Heads (2015, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circle of Animals / Zodiac Heads, 2010 | Bronze | $5,409,368 | Phillips | Jun 2015 |
| 2 | Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads, 2010 | Gold-plated bronze | $4,426,919 | Phillips | Feb 2015 |
| 3 | Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads, 2010 | Gilded bronze on artist's huanghuali veneered wood bases | $3,370,000 | Phillips | May 2017 |
| 4 | Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, 2004 | Gelatin silver print on Alu Dibond, in three parts | $1,099,088 | Sotheby's | Feb 2016 |
| 5 | Map of China, 2009 | Tieli wood from dismantled Qing Dynasty temples, in 3 parts | $1,031,644 | Phillips | Oct 2017 |
| 6 | Grapes | — | $675,794 | Sotheby's | Oct 2015 |
| 7 | Kui Hua Zi (Sunflower Seeds), 2008 | Handmade porcelain sunflower seeds | $675,779 | Christie's | Oct 2012 |
| 8 | Coca Cola Vase, 2011 | Neolithic vase, paint | $665,000 | Phillips | Nov 2014 |
| 9 | Grapes, 2007 | 17 wooden Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) stools | $663,895 | Phillips | Jun 2015 |
| 10 | Chandelier | Crystal, light bulbs, and metal | $657,000 | Sotheby's | Sep 2007 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 212 | $23,980 |
| Paintings | 8 | $16,313 |
| Photographs | 18 | $8,532 |
| Sculpture | 158 | $8,190 |
| Works on paper | 13 | $1,875 |
| Prints | 148 | $1,004 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 62 | $66,486 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 249 | $6,218 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 207 | $2,863 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 682 results from 58 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Ai Weiwei is a Chinese artist with 984 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $5,085. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Ai Weiwei sold in 2026 for $12,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Ai Weiwei work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Ai Weiwei on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ai-weiwei?ref=kg:ai-weiwei) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Ai Weiwei work worth?

Across 676 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ai Weiwei work is $5,085.

The median Ai Weiwei print sells for $1,134 across 241 lots.

The median Ai Weiwei sculpture sells for $8,785 across 142 lots.

The median Ai Weiwei photograph sells for $3,718 across 26 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Ai Weiwei prints typically sell for $563–$1,900 (the middle half of 125 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Ai Weiwei sculptures typically sell for $4,570–$9,627 (the middle half of 95 sold lots).

Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 286 | $1,134†‡ | $94,198 | 84.3% | 2026-10-06 |
| Paintings | 6 | $12,700 | $207,311 | 83.3% | 2025-06-17 |
| Works on Paper | 18 | $6,922‡ | $162,346 | 88.9% | 2025-10-16 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 169 | $8,785†‡ | $5.4M | 84% | 2026-07-16 |
| Photography | 31 | $3,718†‡ | $1.1M | 83.9% | 2026-06-20 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 82 | $185,777‡ | $5.4M | — | 2026-10-15 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Ai Weiwei's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (286 lots) median $1,134 with 84.3% sell-through. Paintings (6 lots) median $12,700, record $207,311. A typical Ai Weiwei painting sells for around 11× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 82 lots) the median is $185,777.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 81 | $632–$5,000†‡ | $1,209†‡ | $25,200 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 125 | $563–$1,900†‡ | $1,077†‡ | $27,608 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 20 | $1,057–$2,442†‡ | $1,678†‡ | $94,198 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $492–$110,772‡ | $1,826‡ | $162,346 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $6,290–$17,882 | $9,969 | $21,023 |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 95 | $4,570–$9,627†‡ | $6,250†‡ | $665,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 25 | $10,581–$112,151† | $19,323† | $4.4M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 14 | $122,238–$343,744† | $196,211† | $5.4M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $416–$3,146†‡ | $625†‡ | $27,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $3,716–$16,209 | $7,044 | $72,522 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $5,298–$206,275 | $105,861 | $1.1M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2015 | $5.4M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2015 | $4.4M |
| Photography | 2016 | $1.1M |
| Paintings | 2025 | $207,311 |
| Photography | 2021 | $206,275 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $162,346 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $127,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $94,198 |

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Ai Weiwei worth?

Across 676 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ai Weiwei work is $5,085. The median Ai Weiwei print sells for $1,134 across 241 lots. The median Ai Weiwei sculpture sells for $8,785 across 142 lots. The median Ai Weiwei photograph sells for $3,718 across 26 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Ai Weiwei prints typically sell for $563–$1,900 (the middle half of 125 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Ai Weiwei sculptures typically sell for $4,570–$9,627 (the middle half of 95 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a Ai Weiwei print?

Based on 241 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ai Weiwei print is $1,134. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Ai Weiwei's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ai Weiwei print is $94,198.

### What is the average price of a Ai Weiwei sculpture?

Based on 142 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ai Weiwei sculpture is $8,785. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Ai Weiwei's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ai Weiwei sculpture is $5,409,368.

### What is the average price of a Ai Weiwei photograph?

Based on 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ai Weiwei photograph is $3,718. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Ai Weiwei's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ai Weiwei photograph is $1,099,088.

### What is the average price of a medium Ai Weiwei print?

Based on 125 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ai Weiwei print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,077, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a small Ai Weiwei sculpture?

Based on 95 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ai Weiwei sculpture (small (under 50 cm)) is $6,250, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Ai Weiwei's auction record?

Ai Weiwei's auction record is $5,409,368, set in 2015.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Ai Weiwei auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ai-weiwei (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.