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

# Kay (1899–1981)

Kay is a Danish artist with 89 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $958. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by Kay sold in 2012 for a hammer price of $1,131 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Kay work worth?

Across 54 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kay work is $958.

The median Kay painting sells for $1,051 across 58 lots.

The median Kay work on paper sells for $266 across 9 lots.

The median Kay print sells for $206 across 4 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Kay paintings typically sell for $669–$2,232 (the middle half of 50 sold 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 | $206† | $236† | 80% | 2026-08-05 |
| Paintings | 87 | $1,051† | $11,000† | 66.7% | 2023-03-14 |
| Works on Paper | 11 | $266† | $603 | 81.8% | 2012-10-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $9,750† | $11,000† | — | 1997-04-08 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Kay's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $206 with 80% sell-through. Paintings (87 lots) median $1,051, record $11,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $11,000 (buyer's premium not included). A typical Kay painting sells for around 5.1× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $9,750.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $324–$446† | $403† | $6,000† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 50 | $669–$2,232† | $1,083† | $11,000† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $127–$377† | $312† | $603 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 1997 | $11,000† |
| Paintings | 1996 | $10,000† |
| Works on Paper | 2009 | $603 |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $384† |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $236† |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $218 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Kay worth?

Across 54 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kay work is $958. The median Kay painting sells for $1,051 across 58 lots. The median Kay work on paper sells for $266 across 9 lots. The median Kay print sells for $206 across 4 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Kay paintings typically sell for $669–$2,232 (the middle half of 50 sold lots). Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a Kay painting?

Based on 58 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kay painting is $1,051. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Kay's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kay painting is $11,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $11,000 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a Kay work on paper?

Based on 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kay work on paper is $266. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Kay's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kay work on paper is $603.

### What is the average price of a medium Kay painting?

Based on 50 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Kay painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,083, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Kay's auction record?

Kay's auction record is $11,000, set in 1997. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $11,000 (buyer's premium not included).

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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, “Kay auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/kay-christensen (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.