Long-Sealed MF Husain Masterpieces to Be Auctioned in Mumbai
Twenty-five rare paintings by modern Indian art icon MF Husain are set to go under the hammer today, June 12, in Mumbai – offering the public a first-ever glimpse of works that have remained hidden for over 15 years.
The collection, titled MF Husain: An Artist’s Vision of the XX Century, will be auctioned at the Pundole Art Gallery, a space that once served as the artist’s personal studio. The paintings, created in the early 2000s, are part of an ambitious 100-piece series Husain never completed. They explore pivotal moments of the 20th century, capturing war, progress, political strife, and cultural evolution through his signature bold, expressive style.
Locked away in bank vaults since 2008, the artworks were seized from businessman Guru Swarup Srivastava as part of a government-led recovery linked to a high-profile loan default case. Srivastava had purchased the 25 paintings in 2004 under what was hailed at the time as “India’s biggest art deal,” a billion-rupee agreement that turned him into a celebrity collector overnight. The deal, however, fell apart amid legal troubles and allegations that the paintings had been purchased using misappropriated public funds. The case remains under court scrutiny.
A tribunal cleared the way for the paintings to be auctioned earlier this year in a bid to recoup public losses.
“This feels like a full-circle moment,” says Dadiba Pundole, director of the Pundole Art Gallery. “These paintings were born here, and now they’re finally being seen here.”
The vibrant acrylics depict everything from Charlie Chaplin and rocket launches to haunting reflections on war, poverty, the Holocaust, and India’s Partition. One striking piece shows global figures in conversation on a bench – symbolising Husain’s vision of dialogue over division.
Husain, often referred to as the “Picasso of India,” was known for pushing boundaries in both form and subject matter. Though celebrated globally, he remained a controversial figure throughout his life. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy of fearless artistic commentary.
The auction follows renewed interest in Husain’s work. Just months ago, one of his paintings, Untitled (Gram Yatra), fetched $13.8 million at a Christie’s sale in New York – the highest sum ever achieved for an Indian artwork at auction.
Today’s sale is expected to fetch as much as $29 million, drawing collectors from across the globe.
Though the full series was never completed, the 25 works going under the hammer today offer a vivid window into Husain’s vision of a turbulent, transformative century – and the complexities of an artist whose legacy continues to evolve.
