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

# Wu Guanzhong (1919–2010)

## What is Wu Guanzhong’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,876 auction results for Wu Guanzhong at 35 houses since 1996. Over the last 24 months the median price was $86,268 including buyer’s premium (middle half $8,200–$307,860, n=106). The auction record is $30,431,253 for The Zhou Village (2016, Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣)). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Zhou Village | Painting | $30,431,253 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Apr 2016 |
| 2 | 狮子林 镜心 | 设色纸本 | $20,812,702 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | Jun 2019 |
| 3 | A Lotus Pond | Painting | $13,692,847 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2016 |
| 4 | Plum Blossoms, 1973 | Oil paint | $13,409,789 | Sotheby's | Oct 2020 |
| 5 | HONG KONG NIGHT, 1987 | Ink and wash on paper | $8,537,348 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Apr 2021 |
| 6 | The Great Fall of Tanzania | Painting | $6,873,144 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2017 |
| 7 | Chongqing, the Mountain City, 1979 | Ink and colour on paper, framed, 1979 | $6,493,259 | Sotheby's | Oct 2020 |
| 8 | The Grand Canyon, 1989 | Ink | $5,775,356 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 9 | A Hill City, 1919 | Ink | $5,623,080 | Christie's | Dec 2023 |
| 10 | Coastal City (Qingdao) | Painting | $5,023,217 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Apr 2015 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 261 | $544,086 |
| Works on paper | 260 | $222,752 |
| Other | 168 | $92,004 |
| Prints | 37 | $7,718 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 78 | $934,766 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 287 | $321,638 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 162 | $123,056 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,876 results from 35 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Wu Guanzhong is a Chinese artist with 2,306 auction lots recorded since 1996, median price $181,789. 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 Wu Guanzhong sold in 2026 for $701,475, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Wu Guanzhong work worth?

Across 1,874 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wu Guanzhong work is $181,789.

The median Wu Guanzhong painting sells for $403,812 across 469 lots.

The median Wu Guanzhong work on paper sells for $215,930 across 323 lots.

The median Wu Guanzhong print sells for $5,825 across 124 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Wu Guanzhong paintings typically sell for $151,491–$1,496,758 (the middle half of 183 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Wu Guanzhong work on papers typically sell for $115,137–$452,477 (the middle half of 134 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 | 135 | $5,825†‡ | $217,582 | 91.9% | 2026-09-01 |
| Paintings | 538 | $403,812†‡ | $30.4M | 87.2% | 2026-09-30 |
| Works on Paper | 373 | $215,930†‡ | $13.2M | 86.6% | 2026-07-20 |
| Photography | 1 | — | — | — | 2009-01-10 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 767 | $471,995†‡ | $30.4M | — | 2026-09-30 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Wu Guanzhong's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (135 lots) median $5,825 with 91.9% sell-through. Paintings (538 lots) median $403,812, record $30,431,253. A typical Wu Guanzhong painting sells for around 69× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 767 lots) the median is $471,995.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 15 | $1,163–$4,890†‡ | $1,687†‡ | $217,582 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 51 | $4,350–$13,684†‡ | $7,711†‡ | $27,578 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 19 | $4,624–$14,138†‡ | $7,248†‡ | $41,772‡ |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 110 | $47,852–$446,679†‡ | $136,716†‡ | $3.9M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 183 | $151,491–$1.5M‡ | $519,312‡ | $13.4M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 39 | $362,611–$2.5M‡ | $910,499‡ | $30.4M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 75 | $34,241–$185,552†‡ | $72,997†‡ | $1.4M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 134 | $115,137–$452,477‡ | $274,168‡ | $3.5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 38 | $710,091–$1.9M‡ | $1.3M‡ | $13.2M |

† 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 | 2016 | $30.4M |
| Paintings | 2019 | $18.2M‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $13.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $8.5M |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $217,582 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $41,772‡ |

‡ 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 Wu Guanzhong worth?

Across 1,874 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wu Guanzhong work is $181,789. The median Wu Guanzhong painting sells for $403,812 across 469 lots. The median Wu Guanzhong work on paper sells for $215,930 across 323 lots. The median Wu Guanzhong print sells for $5,825 across 124 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Wu Guanzhong paintings typically sell for $151,491–$1,496,758 (the middle half of 183 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Wu Guanzhong work on papers typically sell for $115,137–$452,477 (the middle half of 134 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 Wu Guanzhong painting?

Based on 469 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wu Guanzhong painting is $403,812. 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 Wu Guanzhong's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Wu Guanzhong painting is $30,431,253.

### What is the average price of a Wu Guanzhong work on paper?

Based on 323 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wu Guanzhong work on paper is $215,930. 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 Wu Guanzhong's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Wu Guanzhong work on paper is $13,230,000.

### What is the average price of a Wu Guanzhong print?

Based on 124 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wu Guanzhong print is $5,825. 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 Wu Guanzhong's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Wu Guanzhong print is $217,582.

### What is the average price of a medium Wu Guanzhong painting?

Based on 183 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Wu Guanzhong painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $519,312, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a medium Wu Guanzhong work on paper?

Based on 134 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Wu Guanzhong work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $274,168, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Wu Guanzhong's auction record?

Wu Guanzhong's auction record is $30,431,253, set in 2016.

---

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

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Wu Guanzhong auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/wu-guanzhong (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.