Sotheby's Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art auction in New York achieved a total of $22.1 million with 100% of lots sold, setting 12 new auction records for artists from the region. The sale was headlined by Vivan Sundaram's 1967 painting 'Inbetweeness,' which sold for $896,000 and more than doubled his previous annual auction total, and M.F. Husain's 'Second Act,' which fetched $5.1 million.
The results signal a major shift in the global art market, demonstrating robust and broadening demand for Modern South Asian art beyond a narrow group of collectors. The record-breaking prices, particularly for artists like Sundaram and Bangladeshi creators, reflect growing international recognition, increased competition among top-tier buyers, and the influence of institutional validation from recent museum exhibitions and dedicated museums.