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

# Max Yavno (1911–1985)

## What is Max Yavno’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 105 auction results for Max Yavno at 15 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,265 including buyer’s premium (middle half $761–$1,693, n=20). The auction record is $17,500 for MUSCLE BEACH (2020, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MUSCLE BEACH | Cartes-de-visite | $17,500 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |
| 2 | muscle beach | — | $12,500 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| 3 | A suite of 5 large photographs of San Francisco, 1940s | Silver prints | $10,625 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2018 |
| 4 | Powell Street, San Francisco, 1947 | Cartes-de-visite | $10,080 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Mar 2023 |
| 5 | Muscle Beach, Los Angeles, 1949 | Cartes-de-visite | $8,190 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Mar 2023 |
| 6 | "Army Street, San Francisco" * "Ferry Building, San Francisco" * "Pawnshop, Los Angeles." | Silver prints | $8,125 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2013 |
| 7 | Army Street, San Francisco; Ferry Building, San Francisco; Pawnshop, Los Angeles, 1947 | Silver prints | $8,125 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2013 |
| 8 | White House, Canyon de Chelly, 1975, 1911 | Wool | $6,875 | Christie's | Oct 2018 |
| 9 | Muscle Beach, 1948 | Cartes-de-visite | $6,000 | Phillips | Apr 2014 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cable Car, 1947 | Gelatin silver print | $5,670 | Sotheby's | Dec 2020 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 13 | $3,840 |
| Photographs | 89 | $1,536 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 89 | $1,800 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 105 results from 15 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Max Yavno is an American artist with 186 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $1,778. 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 Max Yavno sold in 2026 for $5,160, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Max Yavno work worth?

Across 105 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Max Yavno work is $1,778.

The median Max Yavno photograph sells for $1,778 across 97 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Max Yavno photographs typically sell for $1,022–$3,765 (the middle half of 91 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 | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Photography | 121 | $1,778† | $17,500 | 80.2% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $10,080 | $17,500 | — | 2023-03-23 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

## Price by size

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 91 | $1,022–$3,765† | $1,778† | $17,500 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2020 | $17,500 |
| Photography | 2018 | $10,625 |

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 Max Yavno worth?

Across 105 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Max Yavno work is $1,778. The median Max Yavno photograph sells for $1,778 across 97 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Max Yavno photographs typically sell for $1,022–$3,765 (the middle half of 91 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 Max Yavno photograph?

Based on 97 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Max Yavno photograph is $1,778. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Max Yavno's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Max Yavno photograph is $17,500.

### What is the average price of a small Max Yavno photograph?

Based on 91 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Max Yavno photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,778, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Max Yavno's auction record?

Max Yavno's auction record is $17,500, set in 2020.

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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, “Max Yavno auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/max-yavno (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.