Masao Yamamoto (b. 1957)
What is Masao Yamamoto’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 51 auction results for Masao Yamamoto at 17 houses since 2006. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,280 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,031–$1,533, n=10). The auction record is $22,500 for Nakazora (2017, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nakazora | Fifty-four gelatin silver prints, some with applied ink | $22,500 | Phillips | Apr 2017 |
| 2 | Selected Images from a Box of Ku and Nakazora | Ten gelatin silver prints | $18,750 | Phillips | Apr 2013 |
| 3 | A Box of Ku, 1990 | 23 gelatin silver prints, some with hand-coloring; in a custom antique lacquered box | $12,700 | Sotheby's | May 2019 |
| 4 | Selected Images, from A Box of Ku series and The Nakazora series, 1987-2002, 1957 | Gelatin silver prints | $3,500 | Bonhams | Apr 2015 |
| 5 | Photograph, gelatin silver print and mixed media, 1989 | Cartes-de-visite | $3,024 | Rago Arts | Mar 2023 |
| 6 | Untitled #960 (Nude); Untitled #828 (Dish), 2000 | Cartes-de-visite | $2,772 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Dec 2024 |
| 7 | A Box of Ku #257, 1982 | Cartes-de-visite | $1,778 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Jul 2025 |
| 8 | Untitled #98, Untitled #61, and Untitled #517 (from 'Box of Ku'), 1957 | Three gelatin silver prints, one with applied mixed media, printed 1994 and 1998; two with the photographer's credit stamp | $1,536 | Bonhams | Jul 2026 |
| 9 | Seated Nude, 2010 | Pencil on mount recto | $1,524 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2026 |
| 10 | Nakazora, 2006 | Stampa vintage alla gelatina ai sali d'argento | $1,503 | Finarte Casa d'Aste | Mar 2023 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 28 | $1,161 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 28 | $1,161 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 51 results from 17 houses · How we compute these figures
Masao Yamamoto is a Japanese artist with 60 auction lots recorded since 2006, median price $1,024. 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 Masao Yamamoto sold in 2026 for $1,408, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Masao Yamamoto work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Masao Yamamoto free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Masao Yamamoto record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Masao Yamamoto on OpeningBid →What is a Masao Yamamoto work worth?
Across 51 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Masao Yamamoto work is $1,024.
The median Masao Yamamoto photograph sells for $1,038 across 42 lots.
The median Masao Yamamoto print sells for $750 across 4 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Masao Yamamoto photographs typically sell for $752–$1,377 (the middle half of 39 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 | 5 | $750† | $1,524 | 80% | 2026-02-12 |
| Photography | 47 | $1,038†‡ | $22,500 | 89.4% | 2026-07-14 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $18,750 | $22,500 | — | 2019-05-16 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 39 | $752–$1,377†‡ | $1,052†‡ | $22,500 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2017 | $22,500 |
| Photography | 2013 | $18,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $1,524 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $800† |
† 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 Masao Yamamoto worth?
Across 51 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Masao Yamamoto work is $1,024. The median Masao Yamamoto photograph sells for $1,038 across 42 lots. The median Masao Yamamoto print sells for $750 across 4 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Masao Yamamoto photographs typically sell for $752–$1,377 (the middle half of 39 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 Masao Yamamoto photograph?
Based on 42 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Masao Yamamoto photograph is $1,038. 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 Masao Yamamoto's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Masao Yamamoto photograph is $22,500.
What is the average price of a small Masao Yamamoto photograph?
Based on 39 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Masao Yamamoto photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,052, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. 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 Masao Yamamoto's auction record?
Masao Yamamoto's auction record is $22,500, set in 2017.
See the full Masao Yamamoto record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Masao Yamamoto on OpeningBid →