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

# Kusama Yayoi (1929–2026)

## What is Kusama Yayoi’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 641 auction results for Kusama Yayoi at 42 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $8,796 including buyer’s premium (middle half $357–$85,761, n=54). The auction record is $7,979,549 for Pumpkin (L) (2023, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pumpkin (L), 2014 | Bronze | $7,979,549 | Sotheby's | Apr 2023 |
| 2 | A-Pumpkin (BAGN8), 2011 | Acrylic on canvas | $7,028,126 | Sotheby's | Apr 2023 |
| 3 | A-PUMPKIN-(CHA), 2011 | Acrylic on canvas | $3,769,646 | Sotheby's | Oct 2020 |
| 4 | INFINITY NETS (G.E.R) | Acrylic on canvas, in three parts | $3,620,000 | Sotheby's | Jun 2020 |
| 5 | Untitled (Pumpkin Sculpture), 2007 | Colored fiberglass | $3,500,530 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 6 | Pumpkin, 2005 | — | $3,472,387 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Apr 2023 |
| 7 | My Heart is Flying to the Universe, 2018 | 鏡面盒和 LED 照明系統 (Mirror boxes and LED lighting system) | $3,294,344 | Sotheby's | Apr 2023 |
| 8 | Infinity Nets (QNTBH), 2006 | Acrylic on canvas | $3,063,129 | Sotheby's | Apr 2023 |
| 9 | Pumpkin, 1929 | Acrylic on canvas | $2,765,864 | Bonhams | Mar 2026 |
| 10 | Pumpkin, 2000 | Acrylic on canvas | $2,684,998 | Bonhams | Mar 2026 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 69 | $389,179 |
| Works on paper | 19 | $65,031 |
| Other | 175 | $20,425 |
| Prints | 47 | $15,972 |
| Sculpture | 42 | $3,477 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 19 | $1,654,462 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 67 | $62,255 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 148 | $10,755 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 641 results from 42 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Kusama Yayoi is a Japanese artist with 747 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $11,672. 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 Kusama Yayoi sold in 2026 for $326,282, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Kusama Yayoi work worth?

Across 627 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kusama Yayoi work is $11,672.

The median Kusama Yayoi print sells for $3,435 across 208 lots.

The median Kusama Yayoi painting sells for $263,250 across 91 lots.

The median Kusama Yayoi sculpture sells for $1,431 across 71 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Kusama Yayoi prints typically sell for $1,592–$6,843 (the middle half of 84 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Kusama Yayoi prints typically sell for $2,850–$25,417 (the middle half of 64 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 | 240 | $3,435†‡ | $237,778 | 86.7% | 2026-08-24 |
| Paintings | 96 | $263,250‡ | $7M | 94.8% | 2026-09-29 |
| Works on Paper | 44 | $48,502‡ | $1.4M | 95.5% | 2026-05-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 75 | $1,431†‡ | $8M | 94.7% | 2026-09-03 |
| Photography | 2 | $179,147‡ | $356,384 | — | 2021-01-28 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 147 | $324,743‡ | $8M | — | 2026-09-29 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Kusama Yayoi's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (240 lots) median $3,435 with 86.7% sell-through. Paintings (96 lots) median $263,250, record $7,028,126. A typical Kusama Yayoi painting sells for around 77× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 147 lots) the median is $324,743.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 84 | $1,592–$6,843‡ | $3,408‡ | $189,398 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 64 | $2,850–$25,417†‡ | $10,103†‡ | $237,778 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 44 | $72,136–$401,089‡ | $135,401‡ | $2.2M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 24 | $112,919–$624,351‡ | $282,474‡ | $2.8M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 18 | $377,356–$1.8M | $994,737 | $7M |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 18 | $12,926–$106,078‡ | $63,088‡ | $236,319 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $32,863–$117,876‡ | $65,031‡ | $1.4M |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 56 | $606–$2,414†‡ | $981†‡ | $300,198 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $8M |
| Paintings | 2023 | $7M |
| Paintings | 2020 | $3.8M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $3.5M |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $1.4M |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $547,151 |
| Photography | 2006 | $356,384 |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $237,778 |

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 Kusama Yayoi worth?

Across 627 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kusama Yayoi work is $11,672. The median Kusama Yayoi print sells for $3,435 across 208 lots. The median Kusama Yayoi painting sells for $263,250 across 91 lots. The median Kusama Yayoi sculpture sells for $1,431 across 71 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Kusama Yayoi prints typically sell for $1,592–$6,843 (the middle half of 84 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Kusama Yayoi prints typically sell for $2,850–$25,417 (the middle half of 64 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 Kusama Yayoi print?

Based on 208 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kusama Yayoi print is $3,435. 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 Kusama Yayoi's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kusama Yayoi print is $237,778.

### What is the average price of a Kusama Yayoi painting?

Based on 91 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kusama Yayoi painting is $263,250. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Kusama Yayoi's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kusama Yayoi painting is $7,028,126.

### What is the average price of a Kusama Yayoi sculpture?

Based on 71 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kusama Yayoi sculpture is $1,431. 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 Kusama Yayoi's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kusama Yayoi sculpture is $7,979,549.

### What is the average price of a small Kusama Yayoi print?

Based on 84 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Kusama Yayoi print (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,408, 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 medium Kusama Yayoi print?

Based on 64 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Kusama Yayoi print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $10,103, 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 Kusama Yayoi's auction record?

Kusama Yayoi's auction record is $7,979,549, set in 2023.

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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, “Kusama Yayoi auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yayoi-kusama (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.