> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yoshitomo-nara · updated 2026-11-02

# Yoshitomo Nara (b. 1959)

## What is Yoshitomo Nara’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 2,949 auction results for Yoshitomo Nara at 62 houses since 2001. Over the last 24 months the median price was $6,864 including buyer’s premium (middle half $797–$46,114, n=253). The auction record is $92,875,000 for Can't Wait 'til the Night Comes (2019, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can't Wait 'til the Night Comes, 2012 | Acrylic paint | $92,875,000 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 2 | Untitled (acrylic on canvas), 2007 | Acrylic paint | $30,550,000 | Christie's | Nov 2024 |
| 3 | Missing in Action | Painted | $15,945,010 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Jun 2021 |
| 4 | Missing in Action, 2000 | Acrylic paint | $15,945,010 | Phillips | Jun 2021 |
| 5 | Berlin Barack, Room 1 | Sculpture | $15,458,165 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Apr 2021 |
| 6 | Oddly Cozy, 2013 | Acrylic paint | $14,447,623 | Sotheby's | Apr 2022 |
| 7 | Hothouse Doll | Painted | $13,302,653 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Dec 2020 |
| 8 | Hothouse Doll, 1995 | Acrylic paint | $13,302,653 | Phillips | Dec 2020 |
| 9 | Wish World Peace, 2014 | Acrylic paint | $12,368,367 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 10 | I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, 2017 | Acrylic on canvas | $12,257,759 | Sotheby's | Apr 2024 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 258 | $503,968 |
| Works on paper | 256 | $57,036 |
| Other | 410 | $32,014 |
| Sculpture | 200 | $27,975 |
| Prints | 498 | $5,209 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 149 | $791,400 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 883 | $30,000 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 456 | $7,367 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 2,949 results from 62 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Yoshitomo Nara is a Japanese artist with 3,591 auction lots recorded since 2001, median price $18,750. 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 Yoshitomo Nara sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $37,494 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**8 Yoshitomo Nara works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Yoshitomo Nara on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yoshitomo-nara?ref=kg:yoshitomo-nara) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Yoshitomo Nara work worth?

Across 2,939 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yoshitomo Nara work is $18,750.

The median Yoshitomo Nara print sells for $6,699 across 1,108 lots.

The median Yoshitomo Nara work on paper sells for $65,426 across 551 lots.

The median Yoshitomo Nara painting sells for $396,500 across 281 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Yoshitomo Nara prints typically sell for $4,622–$33,086 (the middle half of 576 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Yoshitomo Nara work on papers typically sell for $30,867–$126,208 (the middle half of 441 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 | 1,221 | $6,699†‡ | $2.2M‡ | 90.7% | 2026-10-09 |
| Paintings | 305 | $396,500†‡ | $92.9M | 92.1% | 2026-09-30 |
| Works on Paper | 619 | $65,426†‡ | $3.2M | 89% | 2026-10-01 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 254 | $19,509†‡ | $15.5M | 90.9% | 2026-10-17 |
| Photography | 59 | $7,854†‡ | $30,836 | 91.5% | 2026-02-27 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 572 | $291,599†‡ | $92.9M | — | 2026-10-01 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Yoshitomo Nara's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1,221 lots) median $6,699 with 90.7% sell-through. Paintings (305 lots) median $396,500, record $92,875,000. A typical Yoshitomo Nara painting sells for around 59× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 572 lots) the median is $291,599.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 576 | $4,622–$33,086†‡ | $16,155†‡ | $756,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 407 | $724–$7,201†‡ | $1,607†‡ | $181,761‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 42 | $4,153–$8,960†‡ | $5,704†‡ | $2.2M‡ |

† 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) | 80 | $42,331–$300,979†‡ | $92,412†‡ | $2.4M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 112 | $189,218–$1M‡ | $468,050‡ | $13.3M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 75 | $590,983–$3.6M‡ | $1.5M‡ | $92.9M |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 441 | $30,867–$126,208†‡ | $62,500†‡ | $2.3M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 50 | $80,011–$238,540‡ | $136,288‡ | $1.4M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 15 | $200,724–$1.3M‡ | $935,663‡ | $3.2M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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) | 181 | $858–$39,199†‡ | $3,000†‡ | $222,672‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 20 | $171,425–$694,228‡ | $361,530‡ | $1.5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 22 | $210,614–$626,875‡ | $354,100‡ | $15.5M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 50 | $4,309–$14,277†‡ | $7,854†‡ | $30,836 |

† 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 | 2019 | $92.9M |
| Paintings | 2024 | $30.5M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $15.5M |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $3.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $2.3M |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $2.2M‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $2.1M‡ |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $1.7M‡ |

‡ 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 Yoshitomo Nara worth?

Across 2,939 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yoshitomo Nara work is $18,750. The median Yoshitomo Nara print sells for $6,699 across 1,108 lots. The median Yoshitomo Nara work on paper sells for $65,426 across 551 lots. The median Yoshitomo Nara painting sells for $396,500 across 281 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Yoshitomo Nara prints typically sell for $4,622–$33,086 (the middle half of 576 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Yoshitomo Nara work on papers typically sell for $30,867–$126,208 (the middle half of 441 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 Yoshitomo Nara print?

Based on 1,108 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yoshitomo Nara print is $6,699. 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 Yoshitomo Nara's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Yoshitomo Nara print is $2,186,776. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a Yoshitomo Nara work on paper?

Based on 551 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yoshitomo Nara work on paper is $65,426. 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 Yoshitomo Nara's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Yoshitomo Nara work on paper is $3,170,942.

### What is the average price of a Yoshitomo Nara painting?

Based on 281 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yoshitomo Nara painting is $396,500. 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 Yoshitomo Nara's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Yoshitomo Nara painting is $92,875,000.

### What is the average price of a small Yoshitomo Nara print?

Based on 576 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Yoshitomo Nara print (small (under 50 cm)) is $16,155, 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 small Yoshitomo Nara work on paper?

Based on 441 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Yoshitomo Nara work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $62,500, 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 Yoshitomo Nara's auction record?

Yoshitomo Nara's auction record is $92,875,000, set in 2019.

---

Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Yoshitomo Nara auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yoshitomo-nara (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.