AstaGuru's forthcoming 'Collectors' Choice' Auction in Modern Indian Art promises an exceptional opportunity for enthusiasts to acquire rare masterpieces and compositions. Scheduled for March 20-21, 2024, the auction is poised to attract considerable attention owing to its extensive and diverse array of offerings. Comprising over 140 works spanning various periods of Modern Indian Art, the selection of AstaGuru’s upcoming 'Collectors' Choice' boasts rare creations in a myriad of mediums and styles. The Collectors' Choice format endeavours to present a rich tapestry of significant and sought-after artworks. Curating such a collection demands dedication, a discerning eye, and a profound exploration of an artist's journey and body of work. Enthusiastic collectors seek pieces that resonate with them, while also acknowledging the artist's skill and recognizing pivotal milestones in their artistic oeuvre. The primary objective is to provide collectors with a diverse range of options to enhance their collections, offering pieces that deeply resonate and validate the artist's mastery, thus taking them on a compelling journey through the evolution of an artist's oeuvre.

Here are some highlights of the upcoming auction

Works by H A Gade

Revered as a "Painters' Painter," H A Gade created works that offer a captivating study of colour and form, resonating with artists and students alike. H. A. Gade's abstract landscapes focus on vibrant compositions portraying townships and cityscapes. His mastery lies in blending colours, hinting at the harmonious coexistence of urban and natural elements. Transitioning from watercolours to oils, Gade utilised palette knives and brushes to infuse depth into his abstracts. The upcoming auction will present several works by the artist. Lot no 70 is a beautiful oil on canvas work titled Farms and Roads. It was executed by the artist in 1978 and is expected to sell at INR 30,00,000 - 40,00,000.  Lot no 62 is an abstract creation from a later period of his career. The oil on canvas work is expected to be acquired at INR 30,00,000 - 40,00,000.  A watercolour painting from the early phase of the artist’s career is also being showcased. Titled ‘Clock Tower,’ this work is estimated to be acquired at INR  4,00,000 - 6,00,000.

Lot no. 81: Temple Festival At Moonlight by Manu Parekh

This large-scale work is a vibrant and beautiful rendition of the holy city of Benares by artist Manu Parekh. Titled ‘Temple Festival at Moonlight in Kashi’ was executed in 2014 and is expected to sell at INR 30,00,000 - 40,00,000. A prolific modernist, Manu Parekh first began exploring the holy city as his artistic muse nearly 30 years ago.

Works by S H Raza:

Works from three different periods of S H Raza's oeuvre are also being showcased in the upcoming auction. Lot no 98, is a work from the 1970s, a period deemed an extremely important phase in Raza’s artistic evolution. Executed with acrylic on tin in 1977, it is expected to be acquired at INR 30,00,000 - 40,00,000. Lot no 148 titled ‘Bindu Panchatatawa’ was executed in 1992 and is offered with an estimate of INR 10,00,000 - 15,00,000. Lot no 56, is titled ‘Rajasthan’ and was executed by Raza in 2012. It is estimated to sell at INR 20,00,000 - 30,00,000.

Lot no. 149: Untitled by Thota Vaikuntam

An important highlight of the auction, this is an exquisite signature style work by artist Thota Vaikuntam. Vaikuntam’s unparalleled expertise comes to fruition in his portrayal of figures, skillfully imbuing them with vitality and realism. Each stroke, meticulously applied, brings forth not just the characters themselves but their stories. Executed in 2016, this work is expected to sell at INR 40,00,000 - 60,00,000.

Lot no. 53: United by Laxman Shreshtha

Adorning the cover of the auction catalogue, this is a work by artist Laxman Shreshtha, who is well known for meditative and intriguing abstract creations, which present the observer with limitless interpretations to arrive at. This oil on canvas work is expected to be acquired at INR 15,00,000 - 20,00,000. On the brink of destitution and starvation, the artist embarked on a perennial search for answers to existential dilemmas and found solace in different schools of thought, including texts from the Upanishads and Buddhism. With intermingling layers and shades,

??Lot no. 60: Untitled (Triptych) by Paramjit Singh

Paramjit Singh's artistic prowess is brilliantly showcased in the presented work, a captivating demonstration of his ability to intricately weave stories on canvas through mesmerising landscapes. Often referred to as ‘colour fields,’ Singh's landscape creations provide a glimpse into his delicate dance between realism and abstraction. Each canvas is an exquisite portrayal of nature, transformed into lively, vibrant spaces through his distinctive brushwork—a hallmark of his artistic repertoire.  The large-scale untitled triptych spanning ten feet was executed in 2002 with oil on canvas. It is expected to be acquired at INR 30,00,000 - 40,00,000.

Another important watercolour work in the auction is lot no 37, by M F Husain. Executed circa 1960, it is estimated to sell at INR 30,00,000 - 40,00,000.

The auction will present work from several other luminaries of Modern Indian Art, including Jamini Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, Sailoz Mookerjea, F N Souza, Sakti Burman, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Ganesh Pyne, Krishen Khanna, Jogen Chowdhury, K. Laxma Goud, K.G. Subramanyan, Manu Parekh, Himmat Shah, A A Almelkar, K S Kulkarni, Avinash Chandra, Ramgopal Vijayvargiya, A A Raiba, K K Hebbar, Ram Kumar, Anjolie Ela Menon, Paresh Maity, K M Adimoolam, Arpana Caur, Manjit Bawa, and several other eminent artists.