Yang Yanwen (1939–2019)
Yang Yanwen is a Chinese artist with 316 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $8,240. 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 Yang Yanwen sold in 2019 for $15,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Yang Yanwen works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Yang Yanwen free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Yang Yanwen record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Yang Yanwen on OpeningBid →What is a Yang Yanwen work worth?
Across 261 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yang Yanwen work is $8,240.
The median Yang Yanwen painting sells for $8,218 across 127 lots.
The median Yang Yanwen work on paper sells for $5,640 across 17 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Yang Yanwen paintings typically sell for $5,613–$10,662 (the middle half of 92 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 | 1 | — | — | — | 2013-05-31 |
| Paintings | 127 | $8,218†‡ | $500,357‡ | — | 2024-05-25 |
| Works on Paper | 18 | $5,640‡ | $290,335 | 94.4% | 2023-08-29 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 12 | $84,349‡ | $500,357‡ | — | 2015-06-02 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $1,138–$4,719‡ | $2,953‡ | $13,758‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 92 | $5,613–$10,662†‡ | $8,197†‡ | $19,059‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 19 | $12,302–$27,055‡ | $19,895‡ | $500,357‡ |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $4,750–$9,744‡ | $5,625‡ | $65,551 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $5,089–$8,242‡ | $6,388‡ | $290,335 |
‡ 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 | 2009 | $500,357‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $290,335 |
| Paintings | 2011 | $177,924‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2005 | $65,551 |
‡ 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 Yang Yanwen worth?
Across 261 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yang Yanwen work is $8,240. The median Yang Yanwen painting sells for $8,218 across 127 lots. The median Yang Yanwen work on paper sells for $5,640 across 17 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Yang Yanwen paintings typically sell for $5,613–$10,662 (the middle half of 92 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 Yang Yanwen painting?
Based on 127 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yang Yanwen painting is $8,218. 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 Yang Yanwen's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Yang Yanwen painting is $500,357. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a Yang Yanwen work on paper?
Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yang Yanwen work on paper is $5,640. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Yang Yanwen's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Yang Yanwen work on paper is $290,335.
What is the average price of a medium Yang Yanwen painting?
Based on 92 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Yang Yanwen painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,197, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. 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 large Yang Yanwen painting?
Based on 19 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Yang Yanwen painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $19,895, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Yang Yanwen's auction record?
Yang Yanwen's auction record is $500,357, set in 2009. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
See the full Yang Yanwen record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Yang Yanwen on OpeningBid →