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

# Yves Klein (1928–1962)

## What is Yves Klein’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 825 auction results for Yves Klein at 53 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $26,273 including buyer’s premium (middle half $14,190–$167,700, n=73). The auction record is $36,482,500 for FC1 (Fire Color 1) (2012, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC1 (Fire Color 1), 1962 | Dry pigments and synthetic resin on panel with artist's frame | $36,482,500 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| 2 | MG 9 | Gold leaf on panel | $23,561,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 3 | California, (IKB 71), 1961 | Pigment pur et résine synthétique sur toile montée sur panneau | $21,302,150 | Christie's | Oct 2025 |
| 4 | Relief Éponge bleu sans titre (RE 49), 1961 | Relief | $19,999,500 | Phillips | May 2022 |
| 5 | Sculpture éponge bleue sans titre (SE 167), 1959 | Sculpture éponge bleue sans titre (SE 167) | $19,060,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 6 | IKB 1 | Dry pigment and synthetic resin on canvas laid down on plywood | $17,401,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 7 | Barbara (ANT 113), 1960 | Dry pigment and synthetic resin on paper laid down on canvas | $15,597,500 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 8 | Relief Éponge bleu sans titre, (RE 28), 1961 | Relief | $14,227,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2024 |
| 9 | Anthropométrie "Le Buffle" (ANT 93), 1960-1961 | Wax | $12,402,500 | Christie's | May 2010 |
| 10 | Rélief éponge bleu (RE 51), 1959 | Wool | $11,944,893 | Christie's | Jun 2012 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 96 | $1,550,869 |
| Sculpture | 174 | $83,203 |
| Other | 305 | $27,500 |
| Works on paper | 38 | $18,364 |
| Prints | 63 | $3,024 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 213 | $95,454 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 215 | $51,239 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 161 | $25,400 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 825 results from 53 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Yves Klein is a French artist with 993 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $34,000. 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 Yves Klein sold in 2026 for $136,107, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**11 Yves Klein works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Yves Klein on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yves-klein?ref=kg:yves-klein) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Yves Klein work worth?

Across 819 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yves Klein work is $34,000.

The median Yves Klein sculpture sells for $95,689 across 286 lots.

The median Yves Klein print sells for $2,776 across 110 lots.

The median Yves Klein painting sells for $882,281 across 36 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Yves Klein sculptures typically sell for $68,760–$1,016,000 (the middle half of 121 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Yves Klein sculptures typically sell for $47,341–$180,040 (the middle half of 93 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 | 132 | $2,776†‡ | $835,759 | 83.3% | 2026-06-17 |
| Paintings | 40 | $882,281‡ | $21.3M | 90% | 2025-10-23 |
| Works on Paper | 22 | $273,386‡ | $2.6M | 90.9% | 2026-03-27 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 306 | $95,689†‡ | $36.5M | 93.5% | 2026-10-01 |
| Photography | 8 | $11,348† | $26,640 | — | 2024-02-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 256 | $506,378†‡ | $36.5M | — | 2026-10-23 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Yves Klein's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (132 lots) median $2,776 with 83.3% sell-through. Paintings (40 lots) median $882,281, record $21,302,150. A typical Yves Klein painting sells for around 318× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 256 lots) the median is $506,378.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 47 | $5,732–$15,529†‡ | $9,836†‡ | $771,336 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 56 | $1,010–$2,934†‡ | $1,799†‡ | $835,759 |

† 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) | 16 | $175,507–$449,044 | $274,058 | $2.9M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 15 | $1.1M–$2.6M‡ | $1.7M‡ | $5M |

‡ 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) | 10 | $99,313–$268,624‡ | $200,023‡ | $1.2M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $502,573–$1M | $600,862 | $2.6M |

‡ 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) | 93 | $47,341–$180,040†‡ | $80,590†‡ | $4.7M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 121 | $68,760–$1M†‡ | $139,735†‡ | $11.9M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 53 | $22,500–$1.2M | $30,178 | $36.5M |

† 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) | 7 | $7,992–$12,745† | $11,348† | $26,640 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2012 | $36.5M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $27.2M |
| Paintings | 2025 | $21.3M |
| Paintings | 2022 | $5M |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $2.6M |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $1.8M |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $835,759 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $771,336 |

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 Yves Klein worth?

Across 819 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yves Klein work is $34,000. The median Yves Klein sculpture sells for $95,689 across 286 lots. The median Yves Klein print sells for $2,776 across 110 lots. The median Yves Klein painting sells for $882,281 across 36 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Yves Klein sculptures typically sell for $68,760–$1,016,000 (the middle half of 121 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Yves Klein sculptures typically sell for $47,341–$180,040 (the middle half of 93 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 Yves Klein sculpture?

Based on 286 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yves Klein sculpture is $95,689. 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 Yves Klein's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Yves Klein sculpture is $36,482,500.

### What is the average price of a Yves Klein print?

Based on 110 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yves Klein print is $2,776. 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 Yves Klein's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Yves Klein print is $835,759.

### What is the average price of a Yves Klein painting?

Based on 36 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yves Klein painting is $882,281. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Yves Klein's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Yves Klein painting is $21,302,150.

### What is the average price of a medium Yves Klein sculpture?

Based on 121 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Yves Klein sculpture (medium (50–120 cm)) is $139,735, 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 Yves Klein sculpture?

Based on 93 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Yves Klein sculpture (small (under 50 cm)) is $80,590, 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 Yves Klein's auction record?

Yves Klein's auction record is $36,482,500, set in 2012.

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

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Yves Klein auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yves-klein (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.