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

# Li Yan (b. 1969)

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

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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 10 | $1,343 |
| Paintings | 32 | $173 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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).

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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 Yan auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/li-yan (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.