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

# 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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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 Nielsen auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/kay-nielsen (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.