> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yves-tanguy · updated 2026-11-01

# 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.

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

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Yves Tanguy auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yves-tanguy (updated 2026-11-01).

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.