Li Keran (1907–1989)
Li Keran is a Chinese artist with 1,551 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $76,480. 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 Li Keran sold in 2026 for $128,935, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Li Keran record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Li Keran on OpeningBid →What is a Li Keran work worth?
Across 1,232 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Li Keran work is $76,480.
The median Li Keran painting sells for $182,378 across 369 lots.
The median Li Keran work on paper sells for $57,053 across 285 lots.
The median Li Keran print sells for $1,398 across 7 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Li Keran paintings typically sell for $92,189–$653,950 (the middle half of 214 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Li Keran work on papers typically sell for $20,645–$203,602 (the middle half of 184 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 | 7 | $1,398‡ | $9,517 | — | 2022-05-13 |
| Paintings | 392 | $182,378†‡ | $46.1M | 94.1% | 2026-09-13 |
| Works on Paper | 294 | $57,053†‡ | $8M‡ | 96.9% | 2026-09-11 |
| Photography | 4 | $3,608†‡ | $5,740† | — | 2025-06-18 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 411 | $355,142‡ | $46.1M | — | 2026-07-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Li Keran's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (7 lots) median $1,398. Paintings (392 lots) median $182,378, record $46,079,545. A typical Li Keran painting sells for around 130× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 411 lots) the median is $355,142.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 54 | $5,254–$174,021‡ | $55,328‡ | $836,094 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 214 | $92,189–$653,950†‡ | $246,079†‡ | $6.5M‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 21 | $345,011–$6.2M‡ | $2M‡ | $46.1M |
† 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) | 26 | $4,719–$21,384‡ | $9,871‡ | $58,124‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 184 | $20,645–$203,602‡ | $65,351‡ | $8M‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 29 | $26,008–$264,958†‡ | $144,302†‡ | $5.5M |
† 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 | 2012 | $46.1M |
| Paintings | 2019 | $29.7M‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $8M‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $5.5M |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $9,517 |
| Photography | 2024 | $5,740† |
| Photography | 2024 | $3,608† |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $1,548‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Li Keran worth?
Across 1,232 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Li Keran work is $76,480. The median Li Keran painting sells for $182,378 across 369 lots. The median Li Keran work on paper sells for $57,053 across 285 lots. The median Li Keran print sells for $1,398 across 7 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Li Keran paintings typically sell for $92,189–$653,950 (the middle half of 214 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Li Keran work on papers typically sell for $20,645–$203,602 (the middle half of 184 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 Li Keran painting?
Based on 369 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Li Keran painting is $182,378. 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 Li Keran's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Li Keran painting is $46,079,545.
What is the average price of a Li Keran work on paper?
Based on 285 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Li Keran work on paper is $57,053. 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 Li Keran's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Li Keran work on paper is $8,025,799. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a medium Li Keran painting?
Based on 214 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Li Keran painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $246,079, 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 Li Keran work on paper?
Based on 184 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Li Keran work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $65,351, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Li Keran's auction record?
Li Keran's auction record is $46,079,545, set in 2012.
See the full Li Keran record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Li Keran on OpeningBid →