> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/david-diao · updated 2026-11-01

# David Diao (b. 1943)

David Diao is an American artist with 31 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $18,298. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by David Diao sold in 2026 for $39,519, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a David Diao work worth?

Across 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a David Diao work is $18,298.

The median David Diao painting sells for $24,575 across 19 lots.

The median David Diao print sells for $448 across 4 lots.

The median David Diao work on paper sells for $1,000 across 1 lots.

Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 5 | $448† | $29,879 | 80% | 2024-07-12 |
| Paintings | 20 | $24,575 | $780,000 | 95% | 2026-03-29 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | — | 2025-12-18 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $159,257 | $780,000 | — | 2021-06-24 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

David Diao's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $448 with 80% sell-through. Paintings (20 lots) median $24,575, record $780,000. A typical David Diao painting sells for around 55× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $159,257.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $13,215–$24,613 | $15,756 | $57,592 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $24,162–$122,046 | $43,699 | $780,000 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2016 | $780,000 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $159,257 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $29,879 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $1,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $567 |

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 David Diao worth?

Across 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a David Diao work is $18,298. The median David Diao painting sells for $24,575 across 19 lots. The median David Diao print sells for $448 across 4 lots. The median David Diao work on paper sells for $1,000 across 1 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a David Diao painting?

Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a David Diao painting is $24,575.

### What is David Diao's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a David Diao painting is $780,000.

### What is the average price of a large David Diao painting?

Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a large David Diao painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $43,699, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is David Diao's auction record?

David Diao's auction record is $780,000, set in 2016.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “David Diao auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/david-diao (updated 2026-11-01).

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.