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

# 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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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, “Li Yan auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yan-li-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.