Cai Guo-Qiang (b. 1957)
Cai Guo-Qiang is a Chinese artist with 188 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $51,523. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Cai Guo-Qiang sold in 2026 for $100,492, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Cai Guo-Qiang work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Cai Guo-Qiang free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Cai Guo-Qiang record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Cai Guo-Qiang on OpeningBid →What is a Cai Guo-Qiang work worth?
Across 154 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Cai Guo-Qiang work is $51,523.
The median Cai Guo-Qiang work on paper sells for $141,453 across 68 lots.
The median Cai Guo-Qiang painting sells for $157,973 across 17 lots.
The median Cai Guo-Qiang print sells for $7,427 across 8 lots.
Large (over 120 cm) Cai Guo-Qiang work on papers typically sell for $143,806–$601,000 (the middle half of 33 sold 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 | 10 | $7,427‡ | $152,500 | 80% | 2023-12-20 |
| Paintings | 18 | $157,973‡ | $1.1M | 94.4% | 2026-03-05 |
| Works on Paper | 80 | $141,453‡ | $1.5M | 85% | 2026-10-17 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 5 | $4,830‡ | $5,400‡ | 80% | 2020-09-30 |
| Photography | 3 | $37,056 | $41,862 | 66.7% | 2013-05-26 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 59 | $467,021‡ | $2.6M | — | 2026-10-17 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Cai Guo-Qiang's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (10 lots) median $7,427 with 80% sell-through. Paintings (18 lots) median $157,973, record $1,086,277. A typical Cai Guo-Qiang painting sells for around 21× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 59 lots) the median is $467,021.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $588,797–$845,071 | $678,983 | $1.1M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $10,422–$17,067‡ | $13,219‡ | $248,950 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 15 | $51,728–$101,110‡ | $72,022‡ | $302,566 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 33 | $143,806–$601,000‡ | $308,550‡ | $1.4M‡ |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $1.5M |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $1.4M‡ |
| Paintings | 2009 | $1.1M |
| Paintings | 2006 | $896,284 |
| Prints & Editions | 2002 | $152,500 |
| Photography | 2013 | $41,862 |
| Photography | 2008 | $32,249 |
| Prints & Editions | 2008 | $18,010‡ |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Cai Guo-Qiang worth?
Across 154 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Cai Guo-Qiang work is $51,523. The median Cai Guo-Qiang work on paper sells for $141,453 across 68 lots. The median Cai Guo-Qiang painting sells for $157,973 across 17 lots. The median Cai Guo-Qiang print sells for $7,427 across 8 lots. Large (over 120 cm) Cai Guo-Qiang work on papers typically sell for $143,806–$601,000 (the middle half of 33 sold lots). Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a Cai Guo-Qiang work on paper?
Based on 68 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Cai Guo-Qiang work on paper is $141,453. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Cai Guo-Qiang's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Cai Guo-Qiang work on paper is $1,528,592.
What is the average price of a Cai Guo-Qiang painting?
Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Cai Guo-Qiang painting is $157,973. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Cai Guo-Qiang's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Cai Guo-Qiang painting is $1,086,277.
What is the average price of a large Cai Guo-Qiang work on paper?
Based on 33 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Cai Guo-Qiang work on paper (large (over 120 cm)) is $308,550, 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 medium Cai Guo-Qiang work on paper?
Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Cai Guo-Qiang work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $72,022, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Cai Guo-Qiang's auction record?
Cai Guo-Qiang's auction record is $2,640,495, set in 2007.
See the full Cai Guo-Qiang record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Cai Guo-Qiang on OpeningBid →