Li Yan (b. 1969)
What is Li Yan’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 49 auction results for Li Yan at 8 houses since 2014. Over the last 24 months the median price was $169 including buyer’s premium (middle half $119–$374, n=30). The auction record is $29,371 for Long and Winding Road 1989.6.5 (2021, Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣)). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long and Winding Road 1989.6.5 | — | $29,371 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Apr 2021 |
| 2 | Wedding Ceremony | — | $22,819 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2014 |
| 3 | Self-portrait in the Subconscious | Painting | $16,734 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2014 |
| 4 | Monkey and Loquat, 1943 | Ink | $15,288 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 5 | Monkeys, 1943 | Ink and colour on paper | $3,600 | Bonhams | Jul 2015 |
| 6 | Monkeys, 1943 | Ink and colour on paper | $2,652 | Bonhams | Jul 2015 |
| 7 | MONKEYS | Ink and color on paper | $2,616 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | May 2024 |
| 8 | Monkey with cub | Ink and colours on paper | $1,543 | Koller Auktionen | Dec 2020 |
| 9 | Two Birds / Cat and Rock, 1943 | Two scrolls, mounted for framing, ink and colour on paper | $1,375 | Christie's | Dec 2022 |
| 10 | Mouses, 1943 | Ink and colour on paper | $1,311 | Bonhams | Feb 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 10 | $1,343 |
| Paintings | 32 | $173 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 40 | $276 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 49 results from 8 houses · How we compute these figures
Li Yan is a Chinese artist with 63 auction lots recorded since 2009, median price $445. 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 Yan sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $39,160 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Li Yan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Li Yan on OpeningBid →What is a Li Yan work worth?
Across 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Li Yan work is $445.
The median Li Yan painting sells for $173 across 32 lots.
The median Li Yan work on paper sells for $1,311 across 11 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Li Yan paintings typically sell for $101–$341 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 43 | $173† | $39,160† | 74.4% | 2026-05-24 |
| Works on Paper | 11 | $1,311‡ | $15,288 | — | 2025-10-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $39,160† | $39,160† | — | 2026-05-24 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 28 | $101–$341 | $169 | $16,734 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $883–$2,097‡ | $1,311‡ | $15,288 |
‡ 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 | 2026 | $39,160† |
| Paintings | 2014 | $16,734 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $15,288 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $3,600 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Li Yan worth?
Across 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Li Yan work is $445. The median Li Yan painting sells for $173 across 32 lots. The median Li Yan work on paper sells for $1,311 across 11 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Li Yan paintings typically sell for $101–$341 (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 Yan painting?
Based on 32 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Li Yan painting is $173. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Li Yan's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Li Yan painting is $39,160. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $39,160 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a Li Yan work on paper?
Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Li Yan work on paper is $1,311. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Li Yan's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Li Yan work on paper is $15,288.
What is the average price of a medium Li Yan painting?
Based on 28 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Li Yan painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $169, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is the average price of a medium Li Yan work on paper?
Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Li Yan work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,311, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Li Yan's auction record?
Li Yan's auction record is $39,160, set in 2026. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $39,160 (buyer's premium not included).
See the full Li Yan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Li Yan on OpeningBid →