Li Yan (b. 1943)
Li Yan is a Chinese artist with 292 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $2,509. 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 Li Yan sold in 2026 for $3,563, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Li Yan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Li Yan on OpeningBid →What is a Li Yan work worth?
Across 226 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Li Yan work is $2,509.
The median Li Yan painting sells for $1,872 across 69 lots.
The median Li Yan work on paper sells for $2,568 across 10 lots.
The median Li Yan sculpture sells for $3,750 across 1 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Li Yan paintings typically sell for $1,349–$3,698 (the middle half of 53 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 | 70 | $1,872‡ | $43,520‡ | — | 2026-04-01 |
| Works on Paper | 10 | $2,568‡ | $5,640‡ | — | 2026-07-20 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $3,750 | $3,750 | — | 2020-06-24 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 9 | $18,093†‡ | $43,520‡ | — | 2021-04-21 |
† 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) | 53 | $1,349–$3,698‡ | $1,856‡ | $43,276 |
‡ 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 | $1,009–$3,593‡ | $2,568‡ | $3,681‡ |
‡ 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 | 2019 | $43,276 |
| Paintings | 2014 | $18,793 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $5,640‡ |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2020 | $3,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $3,681‡ |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Li Yan worth?
Across 226 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Li Yan work is $2,509. The median Li Yan painting sells for $1,872 across 69 lots. The median Li Yan work on paper sells for $2,568 across 10 lots. The median Li Yan sculpture sells for $3,750 across 1 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Li Yan paintings typically sell for $1,349–$3,698 (the middle half of 53 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 Li Yan painting?
Based on 69 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Li Yan painting is $1,872. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Li Yan's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Li Yan painting is $43,520. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a medium Li Yan painting?
Based on 53 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Li Yan painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,856, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Li Yan's auction record?
Li Yan's auction record is $43,520, set in 2019. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
See the full Li Yan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Li Yan on OpeningBid →