> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yasuo-kuniyoshi · updated 2026-11-03

# Yasuo Kuniyoshi (1889–1953)

## What is Yasuo Kuniyoshi’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 205 auction results for Yasuo Kuniyoshi at 18 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,020 including buyer’s premium (middle half $924–$2,000, n=9). The auction record is $271,500 for Boy With Cow (2016, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | 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 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | 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 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 6 | $70,000 |
| Works on paper | 24 | $2,098 |
| Prints | 121 | $1,700 |
| Other | 20 | $1,380 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 9 | $15,000 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 142 | $1,800 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 205 results from 18 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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 $19,493; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Yasuo Kuniyoshi auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yasuo-kuniyoshi (updated 2026-11-03).

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.