Yves Tanguy (1900–1955)
Yves Tanguy is a French artist with 59 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $4,970. 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 Tanguy sold in 2022 for $107,100, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Yves Tanguy record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Yves Tanguy on OpeningBid →What is a Yves Tanguy work worth?
Across 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yves Tanguy work is $4,970.
The median Yves Tanguy print sells for $3,862 across 26 lots.
The median Yves Tanguy work on paper sells for $20,160 across 13 lots.
The median Yves Tanguy photograph sells for $103 across 1 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Yves Tanguy prints typically sell for $2,487–$7,000 (the middle half of 21 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 | 28 | $3,862†‡ | $30,893 | 92.9% | 2025-05-29 |
| Paintings | 2 | $100,514‡ | $196,057 | — | 2013-06-28 |
| Works on Paper | 14 | $20,160‡ | $124,767 | 92.9% | 2022-06-09 |
| Photography | 2 | $103† | $103† | 50% | 2006-11-14 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $115,933 | $196,057 | — | 2022-05-11 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Yves Tanguy's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (28 lots) median $3,862 with 92.9% sell-through. Paintings (2 lots) median $100,514, record $196,057. A typical Yves Tanguy painting sells for around 26× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $115,933.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 21 | $2,487–$7,000†‡ | $4,313†‡ | $30,893 |
† 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) | 11 | $11,398–$87,055‡ | $27,842‡ | $124,767 |
‡ 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 | 2002 | $196,057 |
| Works on Paper | 2003 | $124,767 |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $106,630 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $30,893 |
| Prints & Editions | 1999 | $15,525 |
| Paintings | 2013 | $4,970‡ |
| Photography | 2006 | $103† |
† 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 Yves Tanguy worth?
Across 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yves Tanguy work is $4,970. The median Yves Tanguy print sells for $3,862 across 26 lots. The median Yves Tanguy work on paper sells for $20,160 across 13 lots. The median Yves Tanguy photograph sells for $103 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Yves Tanguy prints typically sell for $2,487–$7,000 (the middle half of 21 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 Tanguy print?
Based on 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yves Tanguy print is $3,862. 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 Tanguy's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Yves Tanguy print is $30,893.
What is the average price of a Yves Tanguy work on paper?
Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yves Tanguy work on paper is $20,160. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Yves Tanguy's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Yves Tanguy work on paper is $124,767.
What is the average price of a small Yves Tanguy print?
Based on 21 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Yves Tanguy print (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,313, 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 Tanguy work on paper?
Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Yves Tanguy work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $27,842, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Yves Tanguy's auction record?
Yves Tanguy's auction record is $196,057, set in 2002.
See the full Yves Tanguy record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Yves Tanguy on OpeningBid →