Christie's London held its first dedicated sale of South Asian art since 2019, titled 'Sublime Shadows: South Asian Art From a Distinguished Collection,' on June 11, 2026. The single-owner auction achieved a total of £18,909,996, with 100% of lots sold, setting 17 world auction records. Top lots included Ganesh Pyne's 'The Fisherman' (1979), which sold for £3,832,000—nearly ten times its high estimate—and set a new world auction record for the artist on his birthday. Other notable results included works by Vasudeo S. Gaitonde, Abanindranath Tagore, and Kattingeri Krishna Hebbar, all exceeding expectations.
The sale underscores the growing international demand for South Asian Modern and Contemporary art, marking a significant return of such a dedicated auction to London after seven years. The strong bidding from collectors worldwide and the record-breaking prices highlight the market's maturation and the enduring appeal of works from Bengal and the broader South Asian visual culture. This auction signals a robust trajectory for the sector, building on Christie's earlier successes in New York and reinforcing London's role as a key hub for this collecting category.