> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/lou-shibai-3 · updated 2026-11-02 # 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. ## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up). ## 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. --- Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly. Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Lou Shibai auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/lou-shibai-3 (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.