Entertainment · Books & Arts · 3 hrs ago

Tyeb Mehta’s ‘Rickshaw Puller’ sells for ₹69.1 crore

Tyeb Mehta’s painting ‘Rickshaw Puller’ sold for ₹69.1 crore at Volte Una’s inaugural auction in India.

The 2002 acrylic painting shows a subject Mehta returned to in his later work.

The sale set a world auction record for Mehta, exceeding his previous high of ₹61.8 crore for ‘Trussed Bull’ in April 2025.

It is the fourth-most expensive Indian artwork sold at auction, while Raja Ravi Varma’s ‘Yashoda and Krishna’ remains the top sale at ₹167.2 crore.

Volte Una is a new auction platform that sells one major artwork at a time, with private viewings for collectors.

Its founder said the format gives each work closer attention and reduces the usual buyer’s premium.

The platform’s next auction is scheduled for the end of November, featuring a work by M.F. Husain from the Herwitz Collection.

What people are saying

Tushar JiwarajkaFounder of Volte Una

We are thrilled that we were able to respect Tyeb Mr. Mehta’s painting by exposing it to the most serious and discreet collectors globally in private settings, and we have introduced a business model that allows the traditional buyer’s premium to be significantly reduced, putting that money back in the pockets of consignors and successful bidders.

via The Hindu

Why should a masterpiece be lost in a crowd? This way, we could expose Tyeb Mehta's painting to the most serious and discreet collectors globally in private settings,

via Times of India

Sources

The Hindu · 3 hrs ago