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

# Kumi Sugai (1919–1996)

## What is Kumi Sugai’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 270 auction results for Kumi Sugai at 48 houses since 1996. Over the last 24 months the median price was $804 including buyer’s premium (middle half $326–$2,183, n=16). The auction record is $256,615 for Chambre du Diable (Devil’s Room) (2016, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chambre du Diable (Devil’s Room), 1963 | Oil paint | $256,615 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 2 | KO-ONI, 1956 | Oil on canvas | $128,300 | Christie's | May 2017 |
| 3 | Ame (Rain), 1959 | Oil paint | $122,782 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 4 | MARS, 1988 | Acrylic on canvas | $112,821 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |
| 5 | Parking dans Forêt au Soleil (Parking in the Forest in the Sunshine), 1966 | Oil paint | $92,087 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 6 | Composition abstraite, 1957 | Oil paint | $81,172 | Christie's | Jun 2023 |
| 7 | SH YORI, 1919 | Oil paint | $76,375 | Christie's | May 2001 |
| 8 | FESTIVAL. A.P, 1974 | Acrylic on canvas | $72,169 | Christie's | May 2017 |
| 9 | Kaze (Wind), 1959 | Oil paint | $69,065 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 10 | Le diable rouge | Oil on canvas | $49,692 | Sotheby's | Jul 2008 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 34 | $19,235 |
| Works on paper | 5 | $3,780 |
| Prints | 38 | $329 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $86,629 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 15 | $858 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 50 | $781 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 270 results from 48 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Kumi Sugai is a Japanese artist with 362 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $1,206. 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 Kumi Sugai is recorded as sold in 2026 for $1,372; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Kumi Sugai work worth?

Across 258 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kumi Sugai work is $1,206.

The median Kumi Sugai print sells for $401 across 118 lots.

The median Kumi Sugai painting sells for $12,354 across 78 lots.

The median Kumi Sugai work on paper sells for $1,748 across 28 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Kumi Sugai prints typically sell for $209–$706 (the middle half of 88 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Kumi Sugai paintings typically sell for $9,850–$19,235 (the middle half of 39 sold 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 | 169 | $401†‡ | $2,441‡ | 69.8% | 2026-07-01 |
| Paintings | 97 | $12,354†‡ | $256,615 | 80.4% | 2026-05-23 |
| Works on Paper | 37 | $1,748†‡ | $7,822 | 75.7% | 2026-05-30 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 5 | $4,416 | $47,500 | 80% | 2025-07-18 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 14 | $74,272‡ | $256,615 | — | 2023-06-08 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Kumi Sugai's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (169 lots) median $401 with 69.8% sell-through. Paintings (97 lots) median $12,354, record $256,615. A typical Kumi Sugai painting sells for around 31× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 14 lots) the median is $74,272.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 20 | $161–$805†‡ | $405†‡ | $2,073‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 88 | $209–$706†‡ | $343†‡ | $2,441‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $2,439–$4,619‡ | $4,061‡ | $12,097‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 39 | $9,850–$19,235†‡ | $12,996†‡ | $69,065 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 14 | $38,788–$107,637‡ | $74,272‡ | $256,615 |

† 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 | $899–$1,964†‡ | $1,412†‡ | $3,190† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $1,850–$4,116‡ | $2,988‡ | $7,822 |

† 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 | 2016 | $256,615 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $128,300 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2016 | $47,500 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $8,190 |
| Works on Paper | 2004 | $7,822 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $6,304‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $2,441‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $2,073‡ |

‡ 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 Kumi Sugai worth?

Across 258 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kumi Sugai work is $1,206. The median Kumi Sugai print sells for $401 across 118 lots. The median Kumi Sugai painting sells for $12,354 across 78 lots. The median Kumi Sugai work on paper sells for $1,748 across 28 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Kumi Sugai prints typically sell for $209–$706 (the middle half of 88 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Kumi Sugai paintings typically sell for $9,850–$19,235 (the middle half of 39 sold 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 Kumi Sugai print?

Based on 118 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kumi Sugai print is $401. 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 Kumi Sugai's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kumi Sugai print is $2,441. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a Kumi Sugai painting?

Based on 78 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kumi Sugai painting is $12,354. 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 Kumi Sugai's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kumi Sugai painting is $256,615.

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

Based on 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kumi Sugai work on paper is $1,748. 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 Kumi Sugai's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kumi Sugai work on paper is $7,822.

### What is the average price of a medium Kumi Sugai print?

Based on 88 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Kumi Sugai print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $343, 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 the average price of a medium Kumi Sugai painting?

Based on 39 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Kumi Sugai painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $12,996, 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 Kumi Sugai's auction record?

Kumi Sugai's auction record is $256,615, set in 2016.

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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, “Kumi Sugai auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/kumi-sugai (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.