> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mao-yan · updated 2026-11-03

# Mao Yan (b. 1968)

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

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 88 auction results for Mao Yan at 12 houses since 2006. Over the last 24 months the median price was $19,576 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,734–$39,577, n=5). The auction record is $4,307,000 for Female Body (2014, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Female Body | Oil on canvas | $4,307,000 | Sotheby's | Jun 2014 |
| 2 | Standing Youth | Painting | $1,217,250 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Apr 2016 |
| 3 | Oval Portrait: Andrew, 2013 | Oil paint | $1,134,000 | Christie's | Apr 2025 |
| 4 | Sharp-born Black Rose | Painting | $1,111,471 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2015 |
| 5 | 伫立的青年, 1993 | — | $1,021,273 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Apr 2016 |
| 6 | 尖角黑玫瑰, 1995 | — | $913,629 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2015 |
| 7 | Black Portrait | Painted | $684,642 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2016 |
| 8 | Portrait | Portrait | $676,445 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Mar 2019 |
| 9 | Portrait of Thomas 2011.NO.1, 2011年作 | 布面油画 | $634,829 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Oct 2022 |
| 10 | 黑色的肖像, 1995 | — | $588,792 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2016 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 21 | $117,695 |
| Other | 28 | $52,599 |
| Works on paper | 6 | $11,655 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 20 | $137,312 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $49,811 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 88 results from 12 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Mao Yan is a Chinese artist with 111 auction lots recorded since 2006, median price $100,308. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Mao Yan sold in 2025 for $1,134,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Mao Yan work worth?

Across 88 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mao Yan work is $100,308.

The median Mao Yan painting sells for $138,848 across 47 lots.

The median Mao Yan work on paper sells for $21,000 across 7 lots.

The median Mao Yan print sells for $3,619 across 1 lots.

Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 1 | $3,619‡ | $3,619‡ | — | 2012-06-02 |
| Paintings | 51 | $138,848‡ | $4.3M | 92.2% | 2026-09-30 |
| Works on Paper | 8 | $21,000‡ | $264,000 | 87.5% | 2026-07-17 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 43 | $329,277‡ | $4.3M | — | 2025-04-03 |

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

Mao Yan's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $3,619. Paintings (51 lots) median $138,848, record $4,307,000. A typical Mao Yan painting sells for around 38× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 43 lots) the median is $329,277.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $37,655–$70,540‡ | $43,753‡ | $400,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 19 | $99,297–$150,879‡ | $137,312‡ | $1.1M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $1.1M–$1.5M‡ | $1.3M‡ | $4M‡ |

‡ 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) | 6 | $8,051–$31,346‡ | $24,071‡ | $264,000 |

‡ 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 | $4.3M |
| Paintings | 2020 | $4M‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $264,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $32,747‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $3,619‡ |

‡ 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 Mao Yan worth?

Across 88 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mao Yan work is $100,308. The median Mao Yan painting sells for $138,848 across 47 lots. The median Mao Yan work on paper sells for $21,000 across 7 lots. The median Mao Yan print sells for $3,619 across 1 lots. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a Mao Yan painting?

Based on 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mao Yan painting is $138,848. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Mao Yan's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mao Yan painting is $4,307,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Mao Yan painting?

Based on 19 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Mao Yan painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $137,312, 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 Mao Yan painting?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Mao Yan painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $43,753, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Mao Yan's auction record?

Mao Yan's auction record is $4,307,000, set in 2014.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Mao Yan auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mao-yan (updated 2026-11-03).

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.