Yves Klein Auction Prices and Value Guide
Yves Klein auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 1,580 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Yves Klein auction prices: quick answer
Yves Klein auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Yves Klein
- Source records
- 1,580
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Yves Klein
Yves Klein (1928–1962) was a French artist whose radically brief career reshaped post-war European art. A founding member of the Nouveau réalisme movement organized by critic Pierre Restany in 1960, Klein is best known for his patented International Klein Blue (IKB), an intense ultramarine pigment that became the signature of his monochrome paintings. Born in Nice to painter parents Fred Klein and Marie Raymond, Klein pursued judo and mysticism before turning to art full-time in the mid-1950s. His practice spanned painting, sculpture, performance, photography, and conceptual works, including the Anthropometry performances in which models pressed their pigment-covered bodies against canvas. His work anticipated minimal art, pop art, and institutional critique. Klein died of a heart attack at age 34, leaving a concentrated but enormously influential body of work now held by major museums worldwide.
Nouveau réalismePigment on canvas (monochrome)Sponge sculpturesPerformance and body artPhotographyMonochrome color fieldVoid and immaterialityHuman figure (Anthropometry series)Cosmic and elemental themes
Common works and media
Collectors and appraisers most frequently encounter Klein's monochrome blue paintings on canvas or panel, sponge reliefs made with natural sponges saturated in IKB pigment, Anthropometry works bearing body-imprint marks, fire paintings created with a blowtorch on cardboard, gold-leaf monochrome panels, and photographic editions such as the iconic Leap into the Void (1960). Sculptural forms include sponge towers and planetary reliefs. Multiples, lithographs, and exhibition posters also circulate in the secondary market.
Market and appraisal context
Yves Klein's auction market is deep and internationally dispersed. Appraisily's auction-record index traces 937 lots offered between June 1999 and April 2026, of which 728 carried a recorded price. The market is top-heavy: the recorded maximum is approximately $27.2 million, while the 75th percentile sits near $105,000 and the median around $24,225. The 25th percentile (~$9,000) and floor ($20) reflect the steady circulation of editioned multiples, serigraphs, and exhibition posters alongside unique works. Recent liquidity remains strong, with 73 priced lots in the trailing twelve months against 82 in the prior period—a modest contraction but still active. Ten major houses dominate supply, led by Christie's and Sotheby's at the top end, with strong French-market presence from Artcurial, Piasa, Aguttes, Millon & Associés, and Cornette de Saint-Cyr. The highest recent result was Christie's London sale of Victoire de Samothrace (March 2026) at £342,900. Mid-tier results cluster around IKB tables (£10,000–£17,800 / $11,000–$14,250) and Petite Vénus editions (€4,500–€7,500). Serigraphs and printed multiples trade at the low end ($750–$1,000). The price dispersion—roughly five orders of magnitude between floor and ceiling—underscores how critical medium, edition status, dimensions, and cataloguing are for any appraisal.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Post-War and Contemporary Art
- Pigment on canvas (monochrome)
- Sponge sculptures
- Relief and gold-leaf works
- Photography
Value drivers
- International Klein Blue monochrome paintings are the most sought-after works at auction
- Provenance and exhibition history significantly affect value given the artist's short career (1955–1962)
- Authenticity should be verified through the Yves Klein Archives; cataloguing is essential given the proliferation of attributed works
- Medium, dimensions, date, and condition are critical for works from such a brief mature period
- Sponge sculptures, gold-leaf monochromes, and Anthropometry works each carry distinct market profiles
- Unique IKB monochrome paintings command the highest tier; Victoire de Samothrace (unique dry-pigment sculpture) realized £342,900 at Christie's in March 2026
Appraisal caveats
- Klein's career lasted only about seven years; the relatively small oeuvre means auction appearances are limited and comparable lots should be evaluated carefully
- Editioned prints and multiples exist alongside unique paintings and sculptures; these have different value tiers
- The $27.2 million maximum reflects a single outlier (likely a large unique IKB monochrome); it is not representative of the typical lot and should not anchor expectations for most works
- Approximately 209 of 937 lots in the index lack a recorded price (unsold, withdrawn, or price not reported), so the true clearance rate cannot be calculated from these data alone
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- VIAF library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
- Tate museum or university
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.
Artist value FAQ
How much is Yves Klein 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 Yves Klein artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.