Chiura Obata (1885–1975)
What is Chiura Obata’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 36 auction results for Chiura Obata at 6 houses since 2008. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,125 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,313–$7,809, n=12). The auction record is $21,000 for Beauty of Struggle (2026, Clars Auction Gallery). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beauty of Struggle | Four-panel wall mural | $21,000 | Clars Auction Gallery | May 2026 |
| 2 | Mountain Mist | Watercolor | $16,000 | Clars Auction Gallery | Apr 2022 |
| 3 | Deer Dance (Folk Dance), Scare Crow, Northeastern Prefecture, Japan, 1960 | And gold leaf on silk | $15,000 | Clars Auction Gallery | Aug 2022 |
| 4 | Untitled (Gladiolus), 1931 | Watercolor and ink on paper | $13,000 | Clars Auction Gallery | Dec 2025 |
| 5 | Shower, Point Lobos, 1933 | Watercolor and gouache on silk | $12,000 | Clars Auction Gallery | Aug 2022 |
| 6 | Magnolias and Rapids, 1935 | Color on paper | $8,288 | Bonhams | Mar 2025 |
| 7 | Hanging Scroll Painting Depicting Islets in a Foggy Sea, 1885 | Color on silk | $8,287 | Bonhams | Mar 2023 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Storm on Lyell Mountain (from the World Landscape Series), 1930 | Woodcut | $10,000 | Clars Auction Gallery | Jan 2023 |
| 2 | Full Moon, Pasadena, California, 1930 | Woodcut | $7,650 | Bonhams | Mar 2025 |
| 3 | Upper Lyell Fork (from the World Landscape Series), 1930 | Woodcut | $7,000 | Clars Auction Gallery | Jan 2023 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Prints | 5 | $7,000 |
| Paintings | 8 | $6,019 |
| Works on paper | 17 | $1,200 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 14 | $3,125 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 17 | $1,000 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 36 results from 6 houses · How we compute these figures
Chiura Obata is an American artist with 35 auction lots recorded since 2008, median price $2,875. 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 Chiura Obata sold in 2026 for $21,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Chiura Obata record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Chiura Obata on OpeningBid →What is a Chiura Obata work worth?
Across 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Chiura Obata work is $2,875.
The median Chiura Obata work on paper sells for $1,550 across 18 lots.
The median Chiura Obata print sells for $6,105 across 8 lots.
The median Chiura Obata painting sells for $3,500 across 6 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 | 8 | $6,105‡ | $10,000 | — | 2025-03-20 |
| Paintings | 6 | $3,500 | $15,000 | — | 2025-06-20 |
| Works on Paper | 18 | $1,550† | $16,000 | — | 2026-05-15 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Chiura Obata's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (8 lots) median $6,105. Paintings (6 lots) median $3,500, record $15,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $2,125–$7,325‡ | $5,500‡ | $10,000 |
‡ 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) | 8 | $550–$1,525† | $750† | $4,500† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $1,588–$8,287 | $2,875 | $16,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $16,000 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $15,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $13,000 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $12,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $10,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $7,650 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Chiura Obata worth?
Across 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Chiura Obata work is $2,875. The median Chiura Obata work on paper sells for $1,550 across 18 lots. The median Chiura Obata print sells for $6,105 across 8 lots. The median Chiura Obata painting sells for $3,500 across 6 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 Chiura Obata work on paper?
Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Chiura Obata work on paper is $1,550. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Chiura Obata's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Chiura Obata work on paper is $16,000.
What is the average price of a medium Chiura Obata work on paper?
Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Chiura Obata work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,875, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Chiura Obata's auction record?
Chiura Obata's auction record is $16,000, set in 2022.
See the full Chiura Obata record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Chiura Obata on OpeningBid →