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On Kawara

Japanese · 1933–2014 · Painter, Printmaker

On Kawara was a Japanese conceptual artist who lived in SoHo, New York City, from 1965 until his death. He took part in many solo and group exhibitions, including the Venice… (Wikipedia)

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25auction results2003–2025years recorded100%sold (25)$22.7kSign up free to seemedian price

Record prices

  1. On Kawara, Four Decades (OCT.13, 1970 / MAY 7, 1980 / NOV.22, 1990 / APR.16, 2000), 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, Liquitex on canvas in handmade cardboard box with newspaper clippings, in 4 partsFour Decades (OCT.13, 1970 / MAY 7, 1980 / NOV.22, 1990 / APR.16, 2000)Phillips · $1,565,000≈ £1,084,997≈ €1,373,409Sign up to see
  2. On Kawara, "MAY 7, 1967", 1967, Acryl auf Leinwand, mit beiliegender Zeitung "The New York Times" von Sonntag, den 7. Mai 1967, in originalem Karton"MAY 7, 1967"Van Ham · €1,056,000≈ $1,170,682≈ £878,494Sign up to see
  3. On Kawara, NOV.25, 1989, Liquitex on canvas and handmade cardboard box with newspaper clippings from the New York Daily NewsNOV.25Phillips · HK$3,276,000≈ $422,637≈ £314,275≈ €347,821Sign up to see

On Kawara’s highest prices recorded at auction, ranked in US dollars at each sale-date exchange rate and shown in the currency of the sale (with the buyer’s premium where the house publishes it).

ArtSell has recorded 25 auction results for On Kawara between 2003 and 2025, of which 25 sold (100%). Recorded sale prices range from $378Sign up free to see to $1.6MSign up free to see. The highest price recorded is $1.6MSign up free to see for Four Decades (OCT.13, 1970 / MAY 7, 1980 / NOV.22, 1990 / APR.16, 2000) at Phillips in May 2016. Most results come from Phillips (12), Van Ham (6) and Lempertz (2).

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25 results

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  1. On Kawara, I Got Up, 1977, ink on mailed postcards, in 61 parts
    I Got Up, 1977
    Drawing
    each: 8.8 x 13.9 cm (3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.) overall: 87.5 x 103.4 cm (34 1/2 x 40 3/4 in.)
    Phillips · · Lot 188
    £165,100≈ $213,161≈ €196,335Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £50,000–70,000View at Phillips ↗
  2. On Kawara, I Got up, 1968, Gestempelte und frankierte Postkarte aus Uruguay
    I Got up, 1968
    Gestempelte und frankierte Postkarte aus Uruguay
    9 x 14cm
    Van Ham · · Lot 101
    €17,160≈ $17,675≈ £14,469Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €4,000–View at Van Ham ↗
  3. On Kawara, I Got up, 1968, Gestempelte und frankierte Postkarte aus Uruguay
    I Got up, 1968
    Gestempelte und frankierte Postkarte aus Uruguay
    9 x 14cm
    Van Ham · · Lot 102
    €12,540≈ $12,916≈ £10,573Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €4,000–View at Van Ham ↗
  4. On Kawara, 100 Jahr-Kalender, 1968, Farbserigrafie auf Papier
    100 Jahr-Kalender, 1968
    Screenprint · Paper
    47,5 x 90cm
    Van Ham · · Lot 103
    €1,452≈ $1,496≈ £1,224Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €300–View at Van Ham ↗
  5. On Kawara, "MAY 7, 1967", 1967, Acryl auf Leinwand, mit beiliegender Zeitung "The New York Times" von Sonntag, den 7. Mai 1967, in originalem Karton
    "MAY 7, 1967", 1967
    Acrylic · Canvas
    33,5 x 44cm
    Van Ham · · Lot 30
    €1,056,000≈ $1,170,682≈ £878,494Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €500,000–View at Van Ham ↗
  6. On Kawara, "21 NOV. 2003", 2003, Acryl auf Leinwand, mit beiliegenden Zeitungsausschnitt von Freitag den 21. November 2003, in originalem Karton
    "21 NOV. 2003", 2003
    Acrylic · Canvas
    20,5 x 26,5cm
    Van Ham · · Lot 32
    €290,400≈ $321,937≈ £241,586Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €200,000–View at Van Ham ↗
  7. On Kawara, I Got up, 1968, Gestempelte und frankierte Postkarte aus Uruguay
    I Got up, 1968
    Gestempelte und frankierte Postkarte aus Uruguay
    9 x 14cm
    Van Ham · · Lot 54
    €19,800≈ $22,087≈ £16,519Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €4,000–View at Van Ham ↗
  8. On Kawara, One Million Years (Past and Future), 2000, plastic, plywood
    One Million Years (Past and Future), 2000
    plastic, plywood
    5½ h x 4¾ w x 5⅞ d in (14 x 12 x 15 cm)
    Rago Auctions · · Lot 155
    $378≈ £294≈ €343Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300–View at Rago Auctions ↗
  9. On Kawara, NOV. 8, 1977 (from Today Series, no. 23), liquitex on canvas with newspaper clipping in artist's box
    NOV. 8, 1977 (from Today Series, no. 23)
    liquitex on canvas with newspaper clipping in artist's box · Canvas
    8 1/8 x 10 1/4 in. (20.6 x 26 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 149
    $330,200≈ £261,669≈ €304,838Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $150,000–200,000View at Phillips ↗
  10. On Kawara, OCT.20, 1992, Liquitex on canvas and handmade cardboard box with newspaper clipping from The New York Times
    OCT.20, 1992
    Liquitex on canvas and handmade cardboard box with newspaper clipping from The New York Times · Canvas
    canvas 25.8 x 33.3 cm (10 1/8 x 13 1/8 in.) box 27.3 x 34.3 x 5 cm (10 3/4 x 13 1/2 x 1 7/8 in.)
    Phillips · · Lot 18
    £342,900≈ $417,584≈ €396,792Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £250,000–350,000View at Phillips ↗

On Kawara paintings (3)On Kawara prints (5)

On Kawara: quick facts

What is the highest price paid for a work by On Kawara at auction?

$1,565,000Sign up free to see, for Four Decades (OCT.13, 1970 / MAY 7, 1980 / NOV.22, 1990 / APR.16, 2000) at Phillips (May 2016) — the highest price in ArtSell’s records.

What is a typical auction price for On Kawara?

The median sale price is $22.7kSign up free to see across 25 priced sales. Prices vary by medium, size and date — see the price chart & statistics.

How many works by On Kawara have sold at auction?

25 of 25 recorded lots sold between 2003 and 2025.

Which auction houses sell On Kawara?

Phillips, Van Ham and Lempertz account for the most recorded results. Phillips · Van Ham · Lempertz

On Kawara signature

10 catalogued lots by On Kawara record a signature line. The most common placement is on the reverse (100% of lots that state a placement). Most often: signed.

Placement

  • on the reverse6

Form

  • signed8
  • initialled2

On Kawara signature: all forms and examples →

About On Kawara

On Kawara was a Japanese conceptual artist who lived in SoHo, New York City, from 1965 until his death. He took part in many solo and group exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale in 1976.

From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related artists — Japanese, born 1908–1958