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Shitao (b. 1642)

Shitao is a Chinese artist with 162 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $2,931. 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 Shitao sold in 2026 for $16,334, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

See the full Shitao record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

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What is a Shitao work worth?

Across 126 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Shitao work is $2,931.

The median Shitao painting sells for $5,016 across 26 lots.

The median Shitao work on paper sells for $13,438 across 23 lots.

The median Shitao print sells for $1,098 across 2 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

CategoryLots trackedMedian priceRecord priceSell-throughLast sale
Prints & Editions2$1,098‡$1,098‡—2017-06-03
Paintings28$5,016‡$237,09892.9%2024-12-14
Works on Paper28$13,438‡$3.1M‡82.1%2026-04-28
Masterpieces (top of market)11$240,764‡$3.1M‡—2026-03-27

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

Shitao's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $1,098. Paintings (28 lots) median $5,016, record $237,098. A typical Shitao painting sells for around 4.6× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 11 lots) the median is $240,764.

Price by size

Paintings

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
medium (50–120 cm)6$5,014–$5,016‡$5,016‡$5,016‡

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

Works on Paper

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
medium (50–120 cm)10$1,885–$40,847‡$5,987‡$660,781‡
large (over 120 cm)8$22,267–$1.8M‡$293,072‡$3.1M‡

‡ 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

MediumYearPrice
Works on Paper2010$3.1M‡
Works on Paper2009$2.8M‡
Paintings2024$237,098
Paintings2020$5,522‡
Prints & Editions2012$1,098‡

‡ 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 Shitao worth?

Across 126 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Shitao work is $2,931. The median Shitao painting sells for $5,016 across 26 lots. The median Shitao work on paper sells for $13,438 across 23 lots. The median Shitao print sells for $1,098 across 2 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 Shitao painting?

Based on 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Shitao painting is $5,016. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

What is Shitao's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Shitao painting is $237,098.

What is the average price of a Shitao work on paper?

Based on 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Shitao work on paper is $13,438. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

What is Shitao's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Shitao work on paper is $3,053,481. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

What is the average price of a medium Shitao work on paper?

Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Shitao work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,987, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

What is Shitao's auction record?

Shitao's auction record is $3,053,481, set in 2010. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

See the full Shitao record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

View Shitao on OpeningBid →