Yasuo Kuniyoshi (1889–1953)
What is Yasuo Kuniyoshi’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 204 auction results for Yasuo Kuniyoshi at 17 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,010 including buyer’s premium (middle half $884–$2,445, n=8). The auction record is $271,500 for Boy With Cow (2016, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boy With Cow, 1921 | Oil paint | $271,500 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |
| 2 | The Clown, 1948 | Oil paint | $204,000 | Christie's | Dec 2005 |
| 3 | Al Perkins Drying Fish, 1922 | Oil paint | $100,000 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |
| 4 | Clown, 1889 | Gouache | $40,000 | Christie's | Mar 2015 |
| 5 | Herald, 1950 | Pencil | $36,000 | Christie's | Dec 2005 |
| 6 | Tired Clown, 1946 | Painting | $32,500 | Christie's | Mar 2009 |
| 7 | Still Life with Columbine and Yellow Flower, 1924 | Drawing | $15,000 | Rago Arts | May 2022 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIRCUS PERFORMER BALANCED ON A BALL (CIRCUS BALL RIDER), 1930 | Lithograph | $9,350 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Sep 1991 |
| 2 | Café No. 2, 1889 | Lithographs | $7,500 | Christie's | Jul 2010 |
| 3 | Café (D. L62), 1893 | Lithograph | $6,710 | Bonhams | Oct 2010 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 6 | $70,000 |
| Works on paper | 23 | $2,125 |
| Prints | 121 | $1,700 |
| Other | 20 | $1,380 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 9 | $15,000 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 142 | $1,800 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 204 results from 17 houses · How we compute these figures
Yasuo Kuniyoshi is an American artist with 277 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $1,875. 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 Yasuo Kuniyoshi is recorded as sold in 2026 for $1,949; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Yasuo Kuniyoshi record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Yasuo Kuniyoshi on OpeningBid →What is a Yasuo Kuniyoshi work worth?
Across 202 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yasuo Kuniyoshi work is $1,875.
The median Yasuo Kuniyoshi print sells for $1,750 across 160 lots.
The median Yasuo Kuniyoshi work on paper sells for $2,250 across 33 lots.
The median Yasuo Kuniyoshi painting sells for $71,294 across 7 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Yasuo Kuniyoshi prints typically sell for $1,119–$2,588 (the middle half of 132 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Yasuo Kuniyoshi work on papers typically sell for $1,331–$3,606 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 203 | $1,750‡ | $20,692‡ | 78.8% | 2025-11-14 |
| Paintings | 8 | $71,294†‡ | $271,500 | 87.5% | 2016-11-22 |
| Works on Paper | 39 | $2,250†‡ | $62,000† | 84.6% | 2026-05-30 |
| Photography | 2 | $762 | $762 | 50% | 2026-03-04 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 11 | $40,000†‡ | $271,500 | — | 2026-05-30 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Yasuo Kuniyoshi's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (203 lots) median $1,750 with 78.8% sell-through. Paintings (8 lots) median $71,294, record $271,500. A typical Yasuo Kuniyoshi painting sells for around 41× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 11 lots) the median is $40,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 132 | $1,119–$2,588‡ | $1,775‡ | $20,692‡ |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $649–$204,000† | $100,000† | $271,500 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 24 | $1,331–$3,606‡ | $2,098‡ | $5,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $3,878–$27,747†‡ | $15,000†‡ | $62,000† |
† 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 | $271,500 |
| Paintings | 2005 | $204,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $62,000† |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $40,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $20,692‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $18,331‡ |
| Photography | 2026 | $762 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 Yasuo Kuniyoshi worth?
Across 202 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yasuo Kuniyoshi work is $1,875. The median Yasuo Kuniyoshi print sells for $1,750 across 160 lots. The median Yasuo Kuniyoshi work on paper sells for $2,250 across 33 lots. The median Yasuo Kuniyoshi painting sells for $71,294 across 7 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Yasuo Kuniyoshi prints typically sell for $1,119–$2,588 (the middle half of 132 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Yasuo Kuniyoshi work on papers typically sell for $1,331–$3,606 (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 Yasuo Kuniyoshi print?
Based on 160 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yasuo Kuniyoshi print is $1,750. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Yasuo Kuniyoshi's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Yasuo Kuniyoshi print is $20,692. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a Yasuo Kuniyoshi work on paper?
Based on 33 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yasuo Kuniyoshi work on paper is $2,250. 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 Yasuo Kuniyoshi's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Yasuo Kuniyoshi work on paper is $62,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $62,000 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a small Yasuo Kuniyoshi print?
Based on 132 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Yasuo Kuniyoshi print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,775, 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 small Yasuo Kuniyoshi work on paper?
Based on 24 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Yasuo Kuniyoshi work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,098, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Yasuo Kuniyoshi's auction record?
Yasuo Kuniyoshi's auction record is $271,500, set in 2016.
See the full Yasuo Kuniyoshi record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Yasuo Kuniyoshi on OpeningBid →