For anyone entering the world of international art, the smartest first step is often the simplest one
Market Surge: Thota Vaikuntam Artworks Peak at ₹14.18 Cr
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.
Read More
Ten artists established new auction records, with bidding pushing several works well beyond their estimates and previous market highs
The auction saw competitive bidding across Indian masters; here are the top-performing lots
Sachdeva's philosophy is simple: don’t treat your walls like a portfolio—the real value lies in the joy of living with art that speaks to you
Contemporary Indian art is gaining fresh momentum, with a new generation of collectors driving stronger auction results
Lokhande’s auction trail from 2021 to 2025 shows a gradual build