Kay Nielsen (1886–1957)
Kay Nielsen is a Danish artist with 46 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $2,119. 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 Kay Nielsen sold in 2024 for $8,125, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Kay Nielsen record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Kay Nielsen on OpeningBid →What is a Kay Nielsen work worth?
Across 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kay Nielsen work is $2,119.
The median Kay Nielsen work on paper sells for $2,119 across 10 lots.
The median Kay Nielsen painting sells for $11,713 across 9 lots.
The median Kay Nielsen print sells for $1,032 across 3 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 | 5 | $1,032† | $3,803† | 60% | 2023-10-10 |
| Paintings | 11 | $11,713 | $24,141 | 81.8% | 2025-01-28 |
| Works on Paper | 18 | $2,119†‡ | $20,000 | 55.6% | 2026-07-29 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $24,141 | $24,141 | — | 2023-12-12 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Kay Nielsen's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $1,032 with 60% sell-through. Paintings (11 lots) median $11,713, record $24,141. A typical Kay Nielsen painting sells for around 11× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $24,141.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $1,406–$24,141 | $11,713 | $24,141 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $998–$4,072†‡ | $2,443†‡ | $20,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 | 2023 | $24,141 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $24,141 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $20,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $8,125 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $3,803† |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $1,032 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Kay Nielsen worth?
Across 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kay Nielsen work is $2,119. The median Kay Nielsen work on paper sells for $2,119 across 10 lots. The median Kay Nielsen painting sells for $11,713 across 9 lots. The median Kay Nielsen print sells for $1,032 across 3 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 Kay Nielsen work on paper?
Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kay Nielsen work on paper is $2,119. 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 Kay Nielsen's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Kay Nielsen work on paper is $20,000.
What is the average price of a Kay Nielsen painting?
Based on 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kay Nielsen painting is $11,713.
What is Kay Nielsen's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Kay Nielsen painting is $24,141.
What is Kay Nielsen's auction record?
Kay Nielsen's auction record is $24,141, set in 2023.
See the full Kay Nielsen record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Kay Nielsen on OpeningBid →