Sublime Shadows: A Major South Asian Sale Returns to London
Christie’s presents 'Sublime Shadows' in London this June, bringing a rare private collection of South Asian modern art to auction, led by Gaitonde and Pyne, amid sustained global demand for historically significant works.
Christie's will present Sublime Shadows: South Asian Art From a Distinguished Collection in a live auction at King Street, London, on 11 June 2026, marking the house’s first dedicated South Asian Modern and Contemporary sale in the city since 2019.
The auction brings together 93 works from a single private collection formed between the 1990s and early 2000s, with a particular focus on the artistic legacy of Bengal. Carefully assembled over decades, the collection reflects a sustained engagement with the evolution of South Asian modernism and features works that have rarely appeared on the market.
Leading the sale is an important 1971 canvas by Vasudeo S. Gaitonde, estimated at £1.2–1.8 million. Produced during a pivotal period following his exposure to Abstract Expressionism in New York, the work exemplifies the quiet intensity and refinement of his mature practice. Also of note is The Fisherman (1979) by Ganesh Pyne, estimated at £250,000–350,000. A key figure within the Bengal school, Pyne’s works are seldom seen at auction and continue to attract strong international interest, particularly following recent record-setting results.
Further highlights include a 1962 painting by K. K. Hebbar, reflecting his synthesis of figuration and abstraction, and a sculptural work by Meera Mukherjee, whose practice reinterpreted traditional Dhokra casting techniques through a modern lens.
As Damian Vesey notes,
“We are thrilled to bring this distinguished collection to London. The remarkable success of works from this group in our recent New York auction underscores the depth of international demand. Many of these works have not been seen publicly in decades, offering collectors a rare opportunity to engage with material of outstanding quality and historical significance.”
The London sale follows a strong season for the category, with Christie’s recent New York auction achieving $27.1 million, the highest total for South Asian Modern and Contemporary art outside India. The results point to sustained global demand for works of rarity and provenance, particularly those tied to key moments in the development of modernism in the region.
Selected highlights from Sublime Shadows will tour Mumbai, New York and London ahead of the auction, offering collectors an opportunity to engage with the collection prior to the sale.
