Qwaya
What is Qwaya’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 171 auction results for Qwaya at 2 houses since 2019. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,881 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,702–$2,572, n=12). The auction record is $9,227 for The Woman Playing the Cello (2022, K-Auction). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Woman Playing the Cello, 2019 | Mixed media on canvas | $9,227 | K-Auction | Jan 2022 |
| 2 | Between the Fireflies, 2021 | Oil on canvas | $6,134 | K-Auction | Mar 2022 |
| 3 | 공허한 새벽, 2022 | Oil on canvas | $3,110 | K-Auction | Mar 2026 |
| 4 | 무엇이 가치 있는지를, 2022 | Oil on canvas | $3,110 | K-Auction | Mar 2026 |
| 5 | 어느 장맛날의 꿈, 2023 | Oil on canvas | $2,948 | K-Auction | Feb 2026 |
| 6 | 서서 책 읽는 소년, 2020 | Oil on canvas | $2,525 | K-Auction | Apr 2024 |
| 7 | 눈 덮인 곳에서, 2022 | Oil on canvas | $2,447 | K-Auction | Jan 2026 |
| 8 | 차창에 비친 모습을 바라보며, 2023 | Oil on canvas | $2,409 | K-Auction | Feb 2026 |
| 9 | 곰인형과 소년, 2021 | Oil on canvas | $2,250 | K-Auction | Oct 2024 |
| 10 | 세잎클로버를 만든 소녀, 2022 | Oil on canvas | $2,194 | K-Auction | Apr 2024 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 20 | $2,151 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 18 | $2,043 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 171 results from 2 houses · How we compute these figures
Qwaya is a Korean artist with 196 auction lots recorded since 2019, median price $2,250. 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 Qwaya sold in 2026 for $3,110, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Qwaya record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Qwaya on OpeningBid →What is a Qwaya work worth?
Across 171 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Qwaya work is $2,250.
The median Qwaya painting sells for $3,063 across 89 lots.
The median Qwaya work on paper sells for $914 across 38 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Qwaya paintings typically sell for $1,997–$5,839 (the middle half of 75 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Qwaya work on papers typically sell for $407–$1,096 (the middle half of 37 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% | — |
| Paintings | 106 | $3,063†‡ | $45,481† | 84% | 2026-03-24 |
| Works on Paper | 44 | $914†‡ | $2,825‡ | 86.4% | 2026-04-09 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 9 | $15,652†‡ | $45,481† | — | 2022-07-05 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $605–$1,194†‡ | $1,080†‡ | $1,295† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 75 | $1,997–$5,839†‡ | $2,986†‡ | $45,481† |
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $3,408–$6,034†‡ | $4,603†‡ | $10,515† |
† 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) | 37 | $407–$1,096†‡ | $909†‡ | $2,825‡ |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2022 | $45,481† |
| Paintings | 2022 | $18,192‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $2,825‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $1,935† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Qwaya worth?
Across 171 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Qwaya work is $2,250. The median Qwaya painting sells for $3,063 across 89 lots. The median Qwaya work on paper sells for $914 across 38 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Qwaya paintings typically sell for $1,997–$5,839 (the middle half of 75 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Qwaya work on papers typically sell for $407–$1,096 (the middle half of 37 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 Qwaya painting?
Based on 89 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Qwaya painting is $3,063. 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 Qwaya's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Qwaya painting is $45,481. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $45,481 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a Qwaya work on paper?
Based on 38 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Qwaya work on paper is $914. 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 Qwaya's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Qwaya work on paper is $2,825. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a medium Qwaya painting?
Based on 75 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Qwaya painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,986, 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 small Qwaya work on paper?
Based on 37 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Qwaya work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $909, 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 Qwaya's auction record?
Qwaya's auction record is $45,481, set in 2022. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $45,481 (buyer's premium not included).
See the full Qwaya record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Qwaya on OpeningBid →