Nobuyoshi Araki (b. 1940)
What is Nobuyoshi Araki’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 887 auction results for Nobuyoshi Araki at 60 houses since 2001. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,730 including buyer’s premium (middle half $735–$3,810, n=99). The auction record is $191,000 for From Close to Range (2014, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | From Close to Range, 1991 | Gelatin silver print diptych, printed 2008 | $191,000 | Phillips | Apr 2014 |
| 2 | 77 Works | Twenty-nine digital chromogenic prints, twenty-seven gelatin silver prints, eight Polaroids, eight colour copy prints, three digital chromogenic prints with acrylic, one dye destruction print and one chromogenic print | $171,380 | Phillips | May 2013 |
| 3 | 101 works for Robert Frank (Private Diary) | 101 gelatin silver prints, each framed | $100,000 | Phillips | Oct 2013 |
| 4 | For Robert Frank, 1992, 1992 | Cartes-de-visite | $100,000 | Christie's | Sep 2014 |
| 5 | Untitled from Colourscapes | Dye destruction print, Diasec mounted, printed later | $60,000 | Phillips | Oct 2013 |
| 6 | Untitled from Colourscapes, 1991 | Dye destruction print, Diasec mounted, printed later | $60,000 | Phillips | Apr 2014 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo Comedy, 1997 | Gelatin silver print mounted on aluminium | $103,137 | Christie's | Oct 2021 |
| 2 | Tokyo Comedy, 1997 | Gelatin silver print, printed later and flush-mounted | $80,162 | Phillips | Oct 2019 |
| 3 | Tokyo Comedy, 1997 | Gelatin silver print, mounted, printed later | $67,406 | Phillips | Nov 2021 |
| 4 | Untitled from Colourscapes, 1991 | Chromogenic print, printed later, flush-mounted | $57,038 | Phillips | May 2017 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 427 | $3,560 |
| Other | 151 | $1,790 |
| Works on paper | 14 | $1,719 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 55 | $13,304 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 178 | $5,991 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 303 | $1,514 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 887 results from 60 houses · How we compute these figures
Nobuyoshi Araki is a Japanese artist with 1,351 auction lots recorded since 2001, median price $2,724. 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 Nobuyoshi Araki sold in 2026 for $18,060, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Nobuyoshi Araki works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Nobuyoshi Araki free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Nobuyoshi Araki record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Nobuyoshi Araki on OpeningBid →What is a Nobuyoshi Araki work worth?
Across 885 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Nobuyoshi Araki work is $2,724.
The median Nobuyoshi Araki photograph sells for $2,705 across 738 lots.
The median Nobuyoshi Araki print sells for $3,044 across 47 lots.
The median Nobuyoshi Araki work on paper sells for $2,197 across 17 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Nobuyoshi Araki photographs typically sell for $870–$2,892 (the middle half of 390 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Nobuyoshi Araki photographs typically sell for $3,042–$9,138 (the middle half of 209 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 | 66 | $3,044†‡ | $60,000 | 71.2% | 2026-09-12 |
| Paintings | 1 | $3,556 | $3,556 | — | 2025-11-04 |
| Works on Paper | 24 | $2,197‡ | $10,918 | 70.8% | 2025-03-18 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 8 | $8,469 | $15,943 | — | 2025-12-11 |
| Photography | 943 | $2,705†‡ | $191,000 | 78.3% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 43 | $40,000‡ | $191,000 | — | 2026-04-16 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Nobuyoshi Araki's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (66 lots) median $3,044 with 71.2% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $3,556, record $3,556. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 43 lots) the median is $40,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $1,243–$3,008†‡ | $1,865†‡ | $4,560† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 12 | $2,740–$12,257† | $4,027† | $39,390 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $11,186–$14,938‡ | $12,607‡ | $60,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $778–$4,383‡ | $1,647‡ | $8,825 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $3,914–$8,605 | $6,211 | $12,588 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 390 | $870–$2,892†‡ | $1,537†‡ | $100,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 209 | $3,042–$9,138†‡ | $5,411†‡ | $171,380 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 59 | $8,554–$25,980‡ | $11,805‡ | $191,000 |
† 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 | 2014 | $191,000 |
| Photography | 2013 | $171,380 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $60,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $39,390 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2013 | $15,943 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2020 | $13,935 |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $10,918 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $10,080 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Nobuyoshi Araki worth?
Across 885 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Nobuyoshi Araki work is $2,724. The median Nobuyoshi Araki photograph sells for $2,705 across 738 lots. The median Nobuyoshi Araki print sells for $3,044 across 47 lots. The median Nobuyoshi Araki work on paper sells for $2,197 across 17 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Nobuyoshi Araki photographs typically sell for $870–$2,892 (the middle half of 390 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Nobuyoshi Araki photographs typically sell for $3,042–$9,138 (the middle half of 209 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 Nobuyoshi Araki photograph?
Based on 738 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Nobuyoshi Araki photograph is $2,705. 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 Nobuyoshi Araki's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Nobuyoshi Araki photograph is $191,000.
What is the average price of a Nobuyoshi Araki print?
Based on 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Nobuyoshi Araki print is $3,044. 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 Nobuyoshi Araki's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Nobuyoshi Araki print is $60,000.
What is the average price of a Nobuyoshi Araki work on paper?
Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Nobuyoshi Araki work on paper is $2,197. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Nobuyoshi Araki's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Nobuyoshi Araki work on paper is $10,918.
What is the average price of a small Nobuyoshi Araki photograph?
Based on 390 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Nobuyoshi Araki photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,537, 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 the average price of a medium Nobuyoshi Araki photograph?
Based on 209 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Nobuyoshi Araki photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,411, 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 Nobuyoshi Araki's auction record?
Nobuyoshi Araki's auction record is $191,000, set in 2014.
See the full Nobuyoshi Araki record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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