Mehta painting fetches $1.76million

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Yet another work of Indian painter Tyeb Mehta was auctioned for over $1 million as Untitled (Figures with Bull Head), which he painted in oil on canvas in 1984, was sold by Christie’s in New York for $1,762,500.

The painting was sold to an anonymous buyer at the South Asian modern and contemporary art auction by Christie’s on Wednesday. The painting was estimated to sell for between $1.5 and $2 million.

Mehta, who passed away in 2009, was the first Indian contemporary artist to have a painting sold for above the million-dollar with Mahisasura.

Last year in June, his 1984 painting, Untitled (Figure on Rickshaw), was sold for record price of £1.97 million ($3.24 million) by Christie’s in London.

Syed Haider Raza’s Saurashtra holds the record for highest auction sale for a work of modern Indian work of art as it was sold for $3.5 million in 2010.

A black-and-white 1959 painting, Citiscape, by Akbar Padamsee was sold for $1.314 million at the New York auction. His Mirror Image sold for $4,22,500.

“Cross-cultural buying continues to play a significant role in the development of this market, and this season was no exception. Contemporary works were mostly acquired by clients from the US, Europe, UK, India, and Hong Kong, with many of them being first time bidders in the category, demonstrating the strength and the global presence of South Asian Art in the international art market,” Deepanjana Klein, head of sale and specialist, added.