Sadamasa Motonaga Auction Prices and Value Guide

Sadamasa Motonaga auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 188 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Sadamasa Motonaga auction prices: quick answer

Sadamasa Motonaga auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Sadamasa Motonaga
Source records
188
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Sadamasa Motonaga

Sadamasa Motonaga (1922–2011) was a Japanese painter, visual artist, and book illustrator recognized as a first-generation member of the Gutai Art Association, one of the most influential postwar Japanese art collectives. Active from the early 1950s, Motonaga contributed to Gutai's experimental ethos, which merged painting, performance, and installation in ways that anticipated later conceptual and process-based art movements internationally. His practice spanned painting and illustration, and his work is represented in major museum collections including the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Motonaga's role within Gutai places him at a key intersection of postwar Japanese art and the global avant-garde, making his work a frequent reference point for collectors and scholars of twentieth-century Japanese art.

Gutai Art Associationpaintingbook illustration

Common works and media

Motonaga's auction-recorded works primarily include paintings in oil and acrylic, works on paper, and illustrated books. He is known for both abstract paintings characteristic of the Gutai movement and experimental works that explore material and process. Collectors may also encounter prints, exhibition posters, and book illustrations bearing his name. Works from his Gutai period (1950s–1960s) are particularly sought after.

Market and appraisal context

Motonaga's work appears regularly in the international auction market, with nearly 190 documented lots. As a founding-generation Gutai artist, his paintings and works on paper attract interest from collectors of postwar Japanese and contemporary Asian art. Valuation depends on medium, size, date of execution, provenance, condition, and whether a work can be firmly attributed to his Gutai period. Institutional holdings at museums such as MoMA reinforce his market profile. Collectors should verify attribution and consult catalogue notes, as Gutai-era works can vary widely in medium and format.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Association with the Gutai movement increases collector interest and institutional demand
  2. Works held by major museums including MoMA support market recognition
  3. 188 documented auction appearances indicate an established secondary market

Appraisal caveats

  • Market data is derived from Appraisily/Invaluable auction records; independent auction-house catalogue notes should be consulted for specific attribution and condition.
  • Precise birth and death dates are not established in the available authority records; only year-level data is confirmed.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Sadamasa Motonaga

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Sadamasa Motonaga worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Sadamasa Motonaga artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.