> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/shitao-2 · updated 2026-11-02

# 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.

## 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

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2 | $1,098‡ | $1,098‡ | — | 2017-06-03 |
| Paintings | 28 | $5,016‡ | $237,098 | 92.9% | 2024-12-14 |
| Works on Paper | 28 | $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

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $3.1M‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2009 | $2.8M‡ |
| Paintings | 2024 | $237,098 |
| Paintings | 2020 | $5,522‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $1,098‡ |

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

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 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.

---

Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Shitao auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/shitao-2 (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.