AstaGuru’s ‘Iconic Masters’ Auction to Present Landmark Works by India’s Modern Masters

AstaGuru has announced its upcoming “Iconic Masters” auction, scheduled to take place online on August 11–12, 2026. The sale will bring together a curated selection of works by some of the most influential figures in Indian modern art, including S.H. Raza, M.F. Husain, Ram Kumar, Hemendranath Mazumdar, Krishen Khanna, Arpita Singh, J. Swaminathan, Sakti Burman and Satish Gujral. According to the auction house, the catalogue traces key developments in Indian modernism through works spanning abstraction, figuration, mythology, landscape and personal narrative.

Focus on the Evolution of Indian Modernism

The auction highlights artistic movements that shaped twentieth-century Indian art. AstaGuru said the sale brings together works that represent pivotal moments in the evolution of Indian modernism and reflects the diversity of approaches adopted by artists across generations. The collection includes works with notable provenance, exhibition histories and rarity, factors that continue to attract collectors and institutions alike.

Founded in 2008, AstaGuru has grown into one of India’s leading online auction houses, specialising in art, antiques and collectibles while serving a global collector base.

Raza’s ‘Jala Bindu’ Leads the Sale

Among the headline lots is S.H. Raza’s Jala Bindu (1990), a significant work from the artist’s celebrated Bindu period. The painting reflects Raza’s mature visual language, developed through the synthesis of European abstraction and Indian philosophical thought. In the work, the bindu functions as a symbol of creation, energy and cosmic order, themes that became central to the artist’s practice during the later decades of his career.

Raza remains one of the most important figures in post-independence Indian art, and works from his Bindu series continue to hold a prominent place in museum collections and the international art market.

Major Works by M.F. Husain

Another key section of the auction is devoted to M.F. Husain. The sale includes a large untitled diptych from around 1970, a period often regarded as one of the artist’s most innovative phases. The work combines fragmented figures, symbolic imagery and dynamic compositions that reflect Husain’s engagement with history, mythology and contemporary life.

Additional highlights include:

• An untitled painting centred on Husain’s iconic horse motif.
• OPCE 5 and OPCE 8 from the artist’s Our Planet Called Earth series.
• Works that have previously been exhibited internationally in Paris and Dubai.

These works illustrate the breadth of Husain’s artistic vision, from symbolic narratives to reflections on global political and environmental concerns.

Contemporary and Rare Highlights

The auction also features an untitled 1999 canvas by Arpita Singh, whose work explores memory, intimacy and domestic life through layered imagery and vibrant colour. Singh’s practice has gained increasing international recognition in recent years, with major exhibitions contributing to renewed attention on her contribution to contemporary Indian art.

Another notable offering is Hemendranath Mazumdar’s Shadow, an early watercolour that differs from the artist’s better-known oil paintings. Remaining within the artist’s family by descent and referenced in scholarly publications, the work provides a rare opportunity to examine a lesser-seen aspect of Mazumdar’s oeuvre.

Celebrated Series and Artistic Legacies

Further works in the sale include Krishen Khanna’s Bandwallas (Triptych), part of one of the artist’s most recognised series depicting ceremonial musicians, and a painting from J. Swaminathan’s Bird, Tree and Mountain series. Swaminathan’s work is widely associated with visual languages informed by folk, tribal and indigenous traditions, while Khanna’s paintings have long examined social and cultural life in India.

Together, the catalogue spans more than a century of artistic production and brings together artists whose works continue to shape discussions around Indian modern and contemporary art.

Auction Details and Registration

For more information, visitors can explore AstaGuru Auction House and preview the upcoming Iconic Masters Auction Catalogue.

Takeaway

By bringing together works by S.H. Raza, M.F. Husain, Arpita Singh, Krishen Khanna, J. Swaminathan and other influential artists, the “Iconic Masters” auction offers a broad survey of Indian modernism and its continuing legacy. The sale reflects both the historical significance and enduring relevance of these artists’ contributions. As interest in Indian art continues to expand internationally, the auction provides collectors, researchers and art enthusiasts an opportunity to engage with works that have shaped the country’s cultural narrative and artistic heritage.