Lou Shibai (1918–2010)
Lou Shibai is a Chinese artist with 2,319 auction lots recorded since 1996, median price $4,274. 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 Lou Shibai sold in 2026 for $10,304, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Lou Shibai record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Lou Shibai on OpeningBid →What is a Lou Shibai work worth?
Across 1,892 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Lou Shibai work is $4,274.
The median Lou Shibai painting sells for $3,607 across 313 lots.
The median Lou Shibai work on paper sells for $3,560 across 77 lots.
The median Lou Shibai print sells for $1,984 across 8 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Lou Shibai paintings typically sell for $2,182–$7,024 (the middle half of 137 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Lou Shibai paintings typically sell for $914–$2,075 (the middle half of 40 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 | $1,984‡ | $3,439‡ | — | 2025-07-23 |
| Paintings | 350 | $3,607‡ | $49,394‡ | 89.4% | 2026-08-31 |
| Works on Paper | 84 | $3,560‡ | $32,367 | 91.7% | 2026-08-29 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | — | — | 50% | 2007-03-24 |
| Photography | 2 | $5,684 | $5,684 | — | 2019-10-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 44 | $29,988†‡ | $515,314‡ | — | 2024-12-08 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Lou Shibai's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (8 lots) median $1,984. Paintings (350 lots) median $3,607, record $49,394. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 44 lots) the median is $29,988.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 40 | $914–$2,075‡ | $1,178‡ | $22,260‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 137 | $2,182–$7,024‡ | $4,545‡ | $47,989‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 30 | $5,697–$13,835‡ | $10,893‡ | $30,529‡ |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 39 | $1,431–$7,712‡ | $3,684‡ | $32,367 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 18 | $1,617–$12,867‡ | $5,315‡ | $17,574 |
‡ 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 | $49,394‡ |
| Paintings | 2012 | $47,989‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $32,367 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $17,574 |
| Photography | 2019 | $5,684 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $3,439‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $2,058 |
‡ 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 Lou Shibai worth?
Across 1,892 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Lou Shibai work is $4,274. The median Lou Shibai painting sells for $3,607 across 313 lots. The median Lou Shibai work on paper sells for $3,560 across 77 lots. The median Lou Shibai print sells for $1,984 across 8 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Lou Shibai paintings typically sell for $2,182–$7,024 (the middle half of 137 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Lou Shibai paintings typically sell for $914–$2,075 (the middle half of 40 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 Lou Shibai painting?
Based on 313 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Lou Shibai painting is $3,607. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Lou Shibai's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Lou Shibai painting is $49,394. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a Lou Shibai work on paper?
Based on 77 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Lou Shibai work on paper is $3,560. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Lou Shibai's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Lou Shibai work on paper is $32,367.
What is the average price of a medium Lou Shibai painting?
Based on 137 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Lou Shibai painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,545, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a small Lou Shibai painting?
Based on 40 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Lou Shibai painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,178, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Lou Shibai's auction record?
Lou Shibai's auction record is $515,314, set in 2014. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
See the full Lou Shibai record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Lou Shibai on OpeningBid →