> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/tay-bak-koi · updated 2026-11-03

# Bak Koi Tay (1939–2005)

## What is Bak Koi Tay’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 70 auction results for Bak Koi Tay at 11 houses since 2011. Over the last 24 months the median price was $9,790 including buyer’s premium (middle half $7,343–$16,313, n=5). The auction record is $35,908 for Two Horses (2025, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two Horses, 1971 | Oil paint | $35,908 | Christie's | Sep 2025 |
| 2 | Buffaloes, 1990 | Oil paint | $35,481 | Christie's | Jul 2020 |
| 3 | Buffaloes Grazing on Field, 1999 | Oil paint | $32,252 | Christie's | Dec 2020 |
| 4 | Greener Pastures, 1996 | Oil on canvas | $29,264 | Sotheby's | Oct 2020 |
| 5 | Buffaloes in Serenity, 1999 | Oil paint | $25,546 | Sotheby's | Dec 2019 |
| 6 | Buffaloes, 1958 | Oil paint | $19,508 | Sotheby's | Dec 2020 |
| 7 | Singapore Scene, 1939 | Oil paint | $19,226 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 8 | Buffaloes | Painted | $18,043 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Mar 2018 |
| 9 | Buffaloes, 1970 | Oil on canvas mounted on board | $16,313 | Christie's | Sep 2026 |
| 10 | FISHING, 1967 | Oil on canvas | $16,117 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 25 | $11,288 |
| Works on paper | 5 | $2,436 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $29,264 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 19 | $8,942 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $2,071 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 70 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Bak Koi Tay is a Singaporean artist with 89 auction lots recorded since 2011, median price $5,573. 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 Bak Koi Tay sold in 2026 for $16,313, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Bak Koi Tay work worth?

Across 70 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bak Koi Tay work is $5,573.

The median Bak Koi Tay painting sells for $11,257 across 34 lots.

The median Bak Koi Tay work on paper sells for $3,114 across 15 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Bak Koi Tay paintings typically sell for $4,443–$15,983 (the middle half of 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 41 | $11,257† | $35,908 | 82.9% | 2026-09-30 |
| Works on Paper | 17 | $3,114†‡ | $6,695† | 88.2% | 2025-05-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $33,866 | $35,908 | — | 2025-09-27 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 24 | $4,443–$15,983† | $10,400† | $35,908 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $23,597–$30,758† | $26,000† | $35,481 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $939–$1,780†‡ | $1,462†‡ | $2,071 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $3,200–$5,153† | $3,689† | $6,695† |

† 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 | 2025 | $35,908 |
| Paintings | 2020 | $35,481 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $6,695† |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $6,409 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Bak Koi Tay worth?

Across 70 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bak Koi Tay work is $5,573. The median Bak Koi Tay painting sells for $11,257 across 34 lots. The median Bak Koi Tay work on paper sells for $3,114 across 15 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Bak Koi Tay paintings typically sell for $4,443–$15,983 (the middle half of 24 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 Bak Koi Tay painting?

Based on 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bak Koi Tay painting is $11,257. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Bak Koi Tay's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Bak Koi Tay painting is $35,908.

### What is the average price of a Bak Koi Tay work on paper?

Based on 15 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bak Koi Tay work on paper is $3,114. 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 Bak Koi Tay's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Bak Koi Tay work on paper is $6,695. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $6,695 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a medium Bak Koi Tay painting?

Based on 24 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Bak Koi Tay painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $10,400, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a medium Bak Koi Tay work on paper?

Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Bak Koi Tay work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,689, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Bak Koi Tay's auction record?

Bak Koi Tay's auction record is $35,908, set in 2025.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Bak Koi Tay auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/tay-bak-koi (updated 2026-11-03).

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.