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

# ARAKAWA Shusaku (1936–2010)

## What is ARAKAWA Shusaku’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 161 auction results for ARAKAWA Shusaku at 36 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $359 including buyer’s premium (middle half $240–$4,158, n=7). The auction record is $179,786 for Vertical Thought (2017, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vertical Thought, 1973 | Painting | $179,786 | Christie's | Oct 2017 |
| 2 | Talking or Walking, 1969 | Oil paint | $150,000 | Christie's | Sep 2016 |
| 3 | Untitled No.1, 1936 | Acrylic, felt tip pen and pencil on canvas | $137,815 | Bonhams | Jun 2017 |
| 4 | My Properties, 1969 | Pencil | $99,760 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 5 | In the Star | Acrylic on canvas | $92,471 | Sotheby's | Oct 2016 |
| 6 | Untitled (acrylic, graphite and colored pencil on canvas), 1965 | Painting | $75,000 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 7 | Confusion, 1967 | Oil paint | $73,007 | Christie's | Mar 2017 |
| 8 | Sans titre (mine de plomb, huile, encre et aquarelle sur toile), 1967 | Mine de plomb, huile, encre et aquarelle sur toile | $71,906 | Christie's | Oct 2018 |
| 9 | Sculpting, 1970 | Painting | $69,850 | Phillips | May 2023 |
| 10 | 1. Moving Picture 2. Portrait of a Civilization, 1936 | Acrylic, felt tip pen and pencil on canvas | $67,597 | Bonhams | Mar 2018 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 29 | $38,000 |
| Other | 9 | $7,615 |
| Prints | 33 | $390 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 31 | $33,020 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 35 | $635 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 161 results from 36 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


ARAKAWA Shusaku is a Japanese artist with 221 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $1,162. 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 ARAKAWA Shusaku sold in 2026 for $7,740, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a ARAKAWA Shusaku work worth?

Across 161 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a ARAKAWA Shusaku work is $1,162.

The median ARAKAWA Shusaku print sells for $771 across 105 lots.

The median ARAKAWA Shusaku painting sells for $33,020 across 25 lots.

The median ARAKAWA Shusaku work on paper sells for $7,522 across 13 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) ARAKAWA Shusaku prints typically sell for $306–$941 (the middle half of 70 sold lots).

Large (over 120 cm) ARAKAWA Shusaku prints typically sell for $753–$1,814 (the middle half of 22 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 | 136 | $771†‡ | $8,255 | 77.2% | 2026-08-14 |
| Paintings | 28 | $33,020‡ | $151,414‡ | 89.3% | 2026-09-26 |
| Works on Paper | 15 | $7,522‡ | $179,786 | 86.7% | 2026-05-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $132,080‡ | $179,786 | — | 2026-05-23 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

ARAKAWA Shusaku's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (136 lots) median $771 with 77.2% sell-through. Paintings (28 lots) median $33,020, record $151,414. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical ARAKAWA Shusaku painting sells for around 43× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 8 lots) the median is $132,080.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 70 | $306–$941†‡ | $683†‡ | $8,255 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 22 | $753–$1,814‡ | $1,208‡ | $2,405‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $16,180–$28,821 | $16,851 | $35,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 20 | $30,902–$79,368‡ | $48,592‡ | $151,414‡ |

‡ 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) | 7 | $1,429–$6,212‡ | $1,653‡ | $66,333 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $45,028–$126,346‡ | $121,625‡ | $179,786 |

‡ 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 | 2017 | $179,786 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $151,414‡ |
| Paintings | 2016 | $150,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $126,346‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $8,255 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $6,293‡ |

‡ 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 ARAKAWA Shusaku worth?

Across 161 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a ARAKAWA Shusaku work is $1,162. The median ARAKAWA Shusaku print sells for $771 across 105 lots. The median ARAKAWA Shusaku painting sells for $33,020 across 25 lots. The median ARAKAWA Shusaku work on paper sells for $7,522 across 13 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) ARAKAWA Shusaku prints typically sell for $306–$941 (the middle half of 70 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) ARAKAWA Shusaku prints typically sell for $753–$1,814 (the middle half of 22 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 ARAKAWA Shusaku print?

Based on 105 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a ARAKAWA Shusaku print is $771. 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 ARAKAWA Shusaku's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a ARAKAWA Shusaku print is $8,255.

### What is the average price of a ARAKAWA Shusaku painting?

Based on 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a ARAKAWA Shusaku painting is $33,020. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is ARAKAWA Shusaku's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a ARAKAWA Shusaku painting is $151,414. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a ARAKAWA Shusaku work on paper?

Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a ARAKAWA Shusaku work on paper is $7,522. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is ARAKAWA Shusaku's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a ARAKAWA Shusaku work on paper is $179,786.

### What is the average price of a medium ARAKAWA Shusaku print?

Based on 70 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium ARAKAWA Shusaku print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $683, 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 large ARAKAWA Shusaku print?

Based on 22 sold lots, the median auction price of a large ARAKAWA Shusaku print (large (over 120 cm)) is $1,208, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is ARAKAWA Shusaku's auction record?

ARAKAWA Shusaku's auction record is $179,786, set in 2017.

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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, “ARAKAWA Shusaku auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/shusaku-arakawa-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.