> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/key-sato · updated 2026-11-03

# Key Sato (1906–1978)

## What is Key Sato’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 50 auction results for Key Sato at 11 houses since 2007. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,445 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,293–$6,739, n=9). The auction record is $34,111 for Âme de la Terre (2021, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Âme de la Terre, 1961 | Oil on canvas | $34,111 | Sotheby's | Jun 2021 |
| 2 | Rivière de pierre, 1964 | Painting | $12,901 | Sotheby's | May 2020 |
| 3 | Pierre de flame, 1964 | Huile sur toile | $10,478 | Ader | May 2025 |
| 4 | Magie salée, 1961 | Technique mixte sur toile | $9,138 | Ader | Dec 2023 |
| 5 | Fossiles dans le ciel, 1971 | Huile sur panneau | $8,824 | Ader | Jun 2018 |
| 6 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1957 | Oil on canvas | $8,820 | Sotheby's | Oct 2021 |
| 7 | Portrait de Temps, 1963 | Duk | $8,489 | Bukowskis | Oct 2025 |
| 8 | Pierre Devin, 1961 | Technique mixte sur toile | $6,739 | Ader | Nov 2025 |
| 9 | Écran intérieur, 1962 | Technique mixte sur toile | $6,116 | Ader | May 2026 |
| 10 | Composition, 1964 | Huile sur carton | $6,100 | Ader | Dec 2018 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 11 | $8,820 |
| Other | 8 | $4,570 |
| Works on paper | 11 | $494 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 10 | $8,655 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 19 | $1,260 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 50 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Key Sato is a Japanese artist with 61 auction lots recorded since 2007, median price $2,915. 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 Key Sato sold in 2026 for $6,116, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Key Sato work worth?

Across 50 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Key Sato work is $2,915.

The median Key Sato painting sells for $7,044 across 23 lots.

The median Key Sato work on paper sells for $923 across 16 lots.

The median Key Sato print sells for $33 across 1 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 | 2 | $33‡ | $33‡ | 50% | 2020-01-28 |
| Paintings | 25 | $7,044†‡ | $34,111 | 92% | 2026-05-22 |
| Works on Paper | 16 | $923‡ | $3,060‡ | — | 2025-12-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $24,362†‡ | $34,111 | — | 2021-06-25 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Key Sato's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $33 with 50% sell-through. Paintings (25 lots) median $7,044, record $34,111. A typical Key Sato painting sells for around 212× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $24,362.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $1,796–$6,100‡ | $3,993‡ | $8,824 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $7,044–$12,900†‡ | $8,820†‡ | $34,111 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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) | 16 | $378–$1,707‡ | $923‡ | $3,060‡ |

‡ 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 | 2021 | $34,111 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $24,362‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $3,060‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $2,171 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $33‡ |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

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 Key Sato worth?

Across 50 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Key Sato work is $2,915. The median Key Sato painting sells for $7,044 across 23 lots. The median Key Sato work on paper sells for $923 across 16 lots. The median Key Sato print sells for $33 across 1 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 Key Sato painting?

Based on 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Key Sato painting is $7,044. 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 Key Sato's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Key Sato painting is $34,111.

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

Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Key Sato work on paper is $923. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Key Sato's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Key Sato work on paper is $3,060. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a small Key Sato work on paper?

Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Key Sato work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $923, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a medium Key Sato painting?

Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Key Sato painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,820, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. 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 Key Sato's auction record?

Key Sato's auction record is $34,111, set in 2021.

---

Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Key Sato auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/key-sato (updated 2026-11-03).

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.