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

# Li Shan (b. 1942)

## What is Li Shan’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 357 auction results for Li Shan at 33 houses since 1997. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,281 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,014–$11,424, n=15). The auction record is $1,445,172 for Rouge (2014, Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣)). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rouge | Painting | $1,445,172 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2014 |
| 2 | Munan Mountain, 1996 | Oil on canvas | $845,876 | Christie's | May 2008 |
| 3 | Rouge Series: Mao With Yellow Background, 1995 | Acrylic and silkscreen on canvas | $783,855 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 4 | Rouge Series: No. 2, 1989 | Oil paint | $593,405 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| 5 | Reading Series: Cubs, 2006 | Acrylic paint | $540,000 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 6 | Initial Series | 油画 | $480,361 | Shanghai Fanhua Auction | Dec 2014 |
| 7 | Sub-Rouge, 1998 | Oil paint | $313,015 | Christie's | May 2013 |
| 8 | Untitled, 1993 | Oil paint | $296,301 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| 9 | 7 Days of the Week Series, 1995 | Oil on canvas | $190,586 | Sotheby's | Apr 2013 |
| 10 | Rouge Series, 1994 | Acrylic paint | $160,216 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 73 | $27,415 |
| Works on paper | 37 | $9,631 |
| Other | 42 | $3,495 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 31 | $67,100 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 31 | $9,045 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 54 | $6,953 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 357 results from 33 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Li Shan is a Chinese artist with 449 auction lots recorded since 1997, median price $6,176. 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 Shan sold in 2026 for $62,692, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Li Shan work worth?

Across 357 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Li Shan work is $6,176.

The median Li Shan painting sells for $12,903 across 144 lots.

The median Li Shan work on paper sells for $5,987 across 62 lots.

The median Li Shan print sells for $19,317 across 8 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Li Shan paintings typically sell for $3,057–$21,434 (the middle half of 54 sold lots).

Large (over 120 cm) Li Shan paintings typically sell for $44,400–$300,480 (the middle half of 28 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 | 8 | $19,317‡ | $95,376 | — | 2020-10-26 |
| Paintings | 162 | $12,903†‡ | $1.4M | 88.9% | 2026-07-19 |
| Works on Paper | 68 | $5,987‡ | $568,751‡ | 91.2% | 2026-09-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 25 | $184,788‡ | $1.4M | — | 2024-06-29 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Li Shan's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (8 lots) median $19,317. Paintings (162 lots) median $12,903, record $1,445,172. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 25 lots) the median is $184,788.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 18 | $1,797–$5,102†‡ | $2,516†‡ | $845,876 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 54 | $3,057–$21,434†‡ | $6,897†‡ | $125,976 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 28 | $44,400–$300,480‡ | $103,228‡ | $1.4M |

† 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) | 17 | $3,545–$25,908‡ | $8,129‡ | $568,751‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 27 | $713–$7,958‡ | $2,170‡ | $43,360‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $6,076–$34,288‡ | $8,750‡ | $92,750‡ |

‡ 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 | 2014 | $1.4M |
| Paintings | 2008 | $845,876 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $568,751‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $149,671‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $95,376 |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $35,933 |

‡ 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 Li Shan worth?

Across 357 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Li Shan work is $6,176. The median Li Shan painting sells for $12,903 across 144 lots. The median Li Shan work on paper sells for $5,987 across 62 lots. The median Li Shan print sells for $19,317 across 8 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Li Shan paintings typically sell for $3,057–$21,434 (the middle half of 54 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Li Shan paintings typically sell for $44,400–$300,480 (the middle half of 28 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 Shan painting?

Based on 144 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Li Shan painting is $12,903. 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 Shan's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Li Shan painting is $1,445,172.

### What is the average price of a Li Shan work on paper?

Based on 62 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Li Shan work on paper is $5,987. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Li Shan's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Li Shan work on paper is $568,751. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a medium Li Shan painting?

Based on 54 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Li Shan painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $6,897, 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 large Li Shan painting?

Based on 28 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Li Shan painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $103,228, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Li Shan's auction record?

Li Shan's auction record is $1,445,172, set in 2014.

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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, “Li Shan auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/li-shan (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.