Sanyu

Chinese | 1901 - 1966

Sanyu was a Chinese Asian Modern & Contemporary artist who was born in 1901.

How much does a Sanyu cost?

Sanyu's work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices of up to 38,848,333 USD for paintings, and 675,594 USD for works on papers.In the past 12 months, their paintings have averaged 702,653 USD, while their sculptures have sold for an average of 178,313 USD.

What is Sanyu's most expensive painting?

Since 2000 the record price for this artist at auction is 38,848,333 USD for Five Nudes, sold at Christie's Hong Kong in 2019.

Numerous key galleries and museums such as Sotheby's Hong Kong Maison have featured Sanyu's work in the past.

Sanyu in the news

Sanyu has been featured in articles for ArtDaily, HYPEBEAST and Christie's Daily. The most recent article is How Picasso and Nara are driving Hong Kong’s live art auctions to record highs written for South China Morning Post in April 2026. The artist died in 1966.

Artist's alternative names: Chang Yu, San Yu

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At Auction

Notable Lots

QUATRE NUS , 1950s

By Sanyu

A white floral arrangement in a blue-and-white pot against a bold red background.

Chrysanthèmes blanches dans un pot bleu et blanc (White Chrysanthemum in a Blue and White Jardiniere)

By Sanyu

+173%

above mid-estimate

POTTED CHRYSANTHEMUMS , 1950s

By Sanyu

VIEW 1,651 ARTWORKS

Recent Auction Results

A stylized figure in a reclining pose rendered with bold, fluid lines and a limited color palette.

Female nude, ink and colors on paper

By Sanyu

-50%

below mid-estimate

Nagel Auction

A stylized figure reclines in a chair, rendered with bold lines and soft washes of color.

Female nude, ink on cardboard

By Sanyu

-40%

below mid-estimate

Nagel Auction

A loose, expressive drawing of a nude figure lying on a pillow.

Female nude, ink and colors on paper

By Sanyu

Nagel Auction

VIEW 1,650 AUCTION RESULTS

Past Exhibitions

Beyond the abstract

Sotheby's Hong Kong Maison

Central | Hong Kong | Hong Kong

Mar 20, 2026 - Mar 27, 2026

In the Ordinary

Tina Keng Gallery, Taipei

Taipei | Taiwan

May 03, 2025 - Jun 14, 2025

The Painter’s Muse

TKG+ & Projects

Taipei | Taiwan

Apr 26, 2025 - May 31, 2025

VIEW 14 EXHIBITIONS

Articles

How Picasso and Nara are driving Hong Kong’s live art auctions to record highs

South China Morning Post Apr 08, 2026

A shift in 2025 saw collectors driving demand for rare, high-quality pieces while millennials and Gen Z bidders helped broaden participation.

Joan Mitchell Sets New Auction Record for a Woman Artist in Asia

MutualArt Apr 03, 2026

Mitchell's painting La Grande Vallée VII, 1983, sold for $17.6 million to catalyze a bounce-back performance for Sotheby's in Hong Kong

Christie's Rides Richter en Route to White-Glove Sale in Hong Kong

MutualArt Mar 31, 2026

Four new artist records were set as Christie's evening sale notches $83.8 million in turnover

View All Articles

Coverage

“ ..In addition to the sgraffito technique he used to outline his subject, this particular body of work attests to Sanyu's dexterous application of feibai, a drybrush technique in Chinese calligraphy that... ”
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Tina Keng Gallery & TKG+ Projects, Taipei

“ ..Sanyu’s approach to painting is remarkably similar to both Cézanne’s and Morandi’s; however, his method is inherently Eastern—he uses oils to paint the inks in his heart... ”
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Gagosian Gallery, Hong Kong

“ ..Ideally, I hoped to be able to use visual rather than linguistic tools to present the details that I had observed... ”
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Gagosian Gallery, Hong Kong

Sanyu

How much does a Sanyu cost?

What is Sanyu's most expensive painting?

Sanyu in the news

At Auction

Notable Lots

Recent Auction Results

Past Exhibitions

Articles

Artist Performance at Auction

All Lot Performance Against Estimates 2025

Average Price YOY Growth 2024 - 2025

Average Lot Values (and YOY change) 2025

Coverage

All Lot Performance Against Estimates
2025

Average Price YOY Growth
2024 - 2025

Average Lot Values (and YOY change)
2025