The auction brought together leading names in Modern Indian art, with several works achieving standout prices
A steady five-year rise in auction value reflects strong demand for Vaikuntam’s rural Telangana vision
Thota Vaikuntam’s auction turnover shows a clear and consistent rise across the last five years. From ₹1.76 crore in 2021, his total at auction moved to ₹2.06 crore in 2022, ₹8.73 crore in 2023, ₹12.74 crore in 2024, and then climbed sharply to ₹14.18 crore ($1.61 million) in 2025 his highest annual turnover with 74 artworks sold.
Across 2021 to 2025, Vaikuntam’s artworks generated a total turnover of ₹39.48 crore. Between these years, 98 works sold in the ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh range, while 2025 alone accounted for 32 works in that bracket.
His strongest moment came in June 2025, when Untitled (Temple Wedding) sold for ₹2.96 crore ($336,363) at AstaGuru, setting a new personal and world record and surpassing his previous high of ₹1.41 crore from AstaGuru’s September 2023 auction.
This sustained recognition is built on decades of a distinctive practice rooted in rural art forms and folk traditions.
Read the full story in the premiere issue of LuxeTrope, on stands now.
The auction brought together leading names in Modern Indian art, with several works achieving standout prices
India's art market has grown nearly 200-fold in 25 years, fuelled by record-breaking auctions and rising collector confidence
While India's iconic Progressives continue to dominate the market, a new wave of artists is rewriting auction records
Art historian, curator, and director of The Al Thani Collection, Dr. Amin Jaffer believes great collections are built on stories that connect cultures across time
Ornamentation in Indian art tells stories of power, identity and cultural memory
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