Takao Tanabe (b. 1926)
Takao Tanabe is a Canadian artist with 65 auction lots recorded since 2007, median price $4,554. 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 Takao Tanabe sold in 2021 for $28,571, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Takao Tanabe works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Takao Tanabe free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Takao Tanabe record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Takao Tanabe on OpeningBid →What is a Takao Tanabe work worth?
Across 57 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Takao Tanabe work is $4,554.
The median Takao Tanabe painting sells for $17,253 across 24 lots.
The median Takao Tanabe print sells for $837 across 22 lots.
The median Takao Tanabe work on paper sells for $3,731 across 9 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 | 22 | $837† | $2,565 | — | 2026-04-21 |
| Paintings | 24 | $17,253‡ | $74,564 | — | 2021-11-18 |
| Works on Paper | 9 | $3,731† | $4,554 | — | 2026-06-09 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Takao Tanabe's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (22 lots) median $837. Paintings (24 lots) median $17,253, record $74,564. A typical Takao Tanabe painting sells for around 21× the price of a typical print.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $588–$2,126 | $1,085 | $2,565 |
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $19,569–$27,440‡ | $22,513‡ | $74,564 |
‡ 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 | 2021 | $74,564 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $28,571 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $4,554 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $2,909† |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $2,565 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $2,126 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Takao Tanabe worth?
Across 57 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Takao Tanabe work is $4,554. The median Takao Tanabe painting sells for $17,253 across 24 lots. The median Takao Tanabe print sells for $837 across 22 lots. The median Takao Tanabe work on paper sells for $3,731 across 9 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 Takao Tanabe painting?
Based on 24 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Takao Tanabe painting is $17,253. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Takao Tanabe's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Takao Tanabe painting is $74,564.
What is the average price of a Takao Tanabe print?
Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Takao Tanabe print is $837. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Takao Tanabe's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Takao Tanabe print is $2,565.
What is Takao Tanabe's auction record?
Takao Tanabe's auction record is $74,564, set in 2021.
See the full Takao Tanabe record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Takao Tanabe on OpeningBid →