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

# Ay-O (b. 1931)

## What is Ay-O’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 64 auction results for Ay-O at 11 houses since 2008. Over the last 24 months the median price was $349 including buyer’s premium (middle half $229–$420, n=7). The auction record is $112,925 for Rainbow Sea-Scape (2024, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rainbow Sea-Scape, 1970 | Acrylic paint | $112,925 | Christie's | May 2024 |
| 2 | Where the Soul of Rainbow Living A, 1998 | Acrylic paint | $63,905 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 3 | Untitled (acrylic on canvas), 1985 | Acrylic on canvas | $16,231 | Christie's | Oct 2008 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homage to Charlotte Moorman, 1987 | Screenprint | $1,827 | Sotheby's | Feb 2021 |
| 2 | Rainbow Bridge 1; Rainbow Man and Woman A; and A Leaf, 1979 | Three screenprints in colours, on Arches paper, with full margins | $817 | Phillips | Dec 2024 |
| 3 | Cat, 1978 | Screenprint in colors | $630 | Wright | Dec 2023 |
| 4 | Untitled, 1975 | Coloured silkscreen | $586 | James Adam Salesrooms | Jul 2020 |
| 5 | Three works from the series Then, Mr. Ay-O got drunk by the Rainbow | Three screenprints in colours, on wove paper, with full margins | $490 | Phillips | Mar 2025 |
| 6 | Untitled, 1931 | Silkscreen print on paper | $350 | Azca Auctions | Nov 2025 |
| 7 | "Sumo Wrestling," 1984, 1984 | Screenprint | $349 | John Moran Auctioneers | Sep 2026 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Prints | 11 | $350 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $350 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 64 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Ay-O is a Japanese artist with 77 auction lots recorded since 2008, median price $2,005. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Ay-O is recorded as sold in 2025 for $4,997; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Ay-O work worth?

Across 62 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ay-O work is $2,005.

The median Ay-O painting sells for $12,584 across 27 lots.

The median Ay-O print sells for $560 across 22 lots.

The median Ay-O work on paper sells for $1,456 across 7 lots.

Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 25 | $560‡ | $3,696‡ | 88% | 2025-09-13 |
| Paintings | 31 | $12,584‡ | $112,925 | 87.1% | 2025-10-26 |
| Works on Paper | 11 | $1,456‡ | $2,492‡ | 63.6% | 2025-10-26 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $77,657‡ | $112,925 | — | 2024-05-28 |

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

Ay-O's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (25 lots) median $560 with 88% sell-through. Paintings (31 lots) median $12,584, record $112,925. A typical Ay-O painting sells for around 22× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $77,657.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $416–$1,447‡ | $1,232‡ | $1,979‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $334–$582‡ | $416‡ | $1,079‡ |

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

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $2,166–$5,981‡ | $3,366‡ | $12,584‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $3,806–$31,203‡ | $16,663‡ | $33,044‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $24,958–$62,496‡ | $38,659‡ | $112,925 |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2024 | $112,925 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $91,409‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $3,696‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $2,492‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $2,119‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $1,979‡ |

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

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 Ay-O worth?

Across 62 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ay-O work is $2,005. The median Ay-O painting sells for $12,584 across 27 lots. The median Ay-O print sells for $560 across 22 lots. The median Ay-O work on paper sells for $1,456 across 7 lots. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a Ay-O painting?

Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ay-O painting is $12,584. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ay-O's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ay-O painting is $112,925.

### What is the average price of a Ay-O print?

Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ay-O print is $560. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ay-O's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ay-O print is $3,696. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a Ay-O work on paper?

Based on 7 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ay-O work on paper is $1,456. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ay-O's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ay-O work on paper is $2,492. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a large Ay-O painting?

Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Ay-O painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $38,659, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a small Ay-O painting?

Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ay-O painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,366, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ay-O's auction record?

Ay-O's auction record is $112,925, set in 2024.

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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, “Ay-O auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ay-o (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.