MF Husain Painting sells for $13.5 million, breaking all records

MF Husain is one of India’s most famous artists, often called the ‘Picasso of India.’ His unique style blends Indian themes with modern techniques, using bold brushstrokes, bright colours, and energetic compositions. Whether it’s his well-known Mother Teresa series, his striking Horses, or his storytelling paintings, Husain’s work is instantly recognisable and beautifully combines tradition with modernity.

Recently, his painting Untitled (Gram Yatra) made history at a Christie’s auction in New York’s Rockefeller Center. It sold for an incredible $13,750,000, setting a new record for Modern Indian Art. This sale nearly doubled the previous record of $7.4 million set by Amrita Sher-Gil’s The Story Teller (1937) in Mumbai in September 2023. It also far exceeded Husain’s previous highest auction price of $3.1 million for Untitled (Reincarnation), which was sold in London last year.

Nishad Avari, Head of Christie’s South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art department, described the sale as a major moment for Indian art. “We are thrilled to have helped set a new benchmark for Husain’s work and for Modern Indian Art as a whole. This event highlights how quickly South Asian art is rising on the global stage,” he said.

Reports suggest that the painting was bought by Kiran Nadar, a well-known Indian art collector, philanthropist, and founder of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in New Delhi. She is also the wife of billionaire businessman Shiv Nadar. The bidding was highly competitive, and although the painting was initially expected to sell for $2.5–3.5 million (about 21–30 crore rupees), its final price far exceeded expectations. This sale reflects the growing demand for Indian contemporary art worldwide.

The story behind Gram Yatra makes its sale even more special. The painting had been hidden away in Norway for decades, unseen by the public. It was originally acquired by Dr. Leon Elias Volodarsky, a Ukrainian-born doctor who later moved to Norway. He came to Delhi to set up a thoracic surgery training centre for the World Health Organization, dedicated to improving medical education.

In 1964, Dr. Volodarsky donated Gram Yatra to Oslo University Hospital as a gesture of gratitude and support for medical training. Despite its artistic and historical value, the painting remained unnoticed for years.

Now, after breaking records at auction, the proceeds from its sale of the MF Husain will be used to train future generations of doctors. This ensures that both Husain’s artistic legacy and Dr. Volodarsky’s commitment to medicine will continue to make a lasting impact.