Mumbai’s art season kicked off in style on 1 September 2026, when Pundole’s hosted an exclusive preview offering an early look at all 81 lots ahead of its highly anticipated September sale. The evening drew a mix of collectors, curators, press, and members of the wider art community, a turnout that reflects the growing buzz surrounding this year’s auction.
Among the most notable attendees were celebrated artists Paramjit Singh and Arpita Singh, whose presence added considerable weight to the occasion. Arpita Singh’s body of work is widely recognised for its layered narratives, domestic imagery, personal symbolism, and social commentary, cementing her reputation as one of the most significant voices in modern and contemporary Indian art. Having her walk the preview room, taking in the works alongside fellow collectors, was a quiet but powerful reminder of the living continuum that connects India’s art history to its present market.
Throughout the evening, Dadiba Pundole, Director of Pundole’s, was seen engaging closely with collectors and gallerists. In conversation, he touched on a theme that’s been gaining traction across the Indian secondary market: the widening of collector interest beyond the most familiar, blue-chip names. His comments pointed to a market that is maturing, one where connoisseurship is increasingly extending toward artists who may not always dominate headlines but whose practices are gathering serious critical and commercial attention.
Pundole’s has scheduled a public viewing from 20 to 23 September, open daily from 11 AM to 6 PM. This extended four-day window gives collectors and visitors the chance to examine each work closely, assess condition and provenance, and engage with the selection at their own pace before bidding begins. The viewing period sets the stage for the main event, the live auction on the evening of 24 September.
Pundole’s: The Fine Art Sale takes place on 24 September 2026 at Hamilton House, Mumbai. The live auction brings together 81 lots spanning modern and contemporary Indian art, a curated mix of established masters and works making their debut in the secondary market.
Leading the sale is a striking 1963 Untitled canvas by Vasudev S. Gaitonde, oil on canvas, measuring 45 1/4 x 50 1/4 inches, estimated between ₹12 and ₹18 crore, positioning it as one of the marquee lots of the evening.
Also drawing attention is Jangarh Singh Shyam’s 1999 Untitled acrylic on canvas, measuring 91 3/8 x 69 5/8 inches and estimated between ₹4 and ₹6 crore, a significant example from the pioneer of contemporary Gond art.
Manjit Bawa’s 2005 Untitled oil on canvas, sized 42 3/4 x 32 5/8 inches, carries a similar estimate of ₹4 to ₹6 crore.
Among the works by Maqbool Fida Husain is The Red Girl, an oil on canvas from 1952 measuring 48 x 23 7/8 inches.
Also featured is Husain’s undated Ganesha, an oil on canvas sized 38 1/2 x 24 1/8 inches estimated between ₹1.5 and ₹2.5 crore.
Sayed Haider Raza’s 1996 acrylic on canvas Bindu Panchtatva, measuring 47 1/4 x 47 3/8 inches, is estimated between ₹3 and ₹5 crore.
Sakti Burman’s 1995 oil on canvas The Artist with his Model, sized 44 1/8 x 34 inches, carries an estimate of ₹2 to ₹3 crore.
Rounding out the highlights is Ram Kumar’s 1976 Untitled oil on canvas, measuring 70 x 25 inches, estimated between ₹1.5 and ₹2.5 crore.
With a preview that has already drawn collectors, curators and artists themselves into the room, and a four-day viewing window designed to encourage close engagement, Pundole’s appears to be setting the tone for a strong September auction season. As Dadiba Pundole noted, the Indian secondary market is expanding its gaze, and this sale, with its mix of iconic and lesser-spotlighted names, feels like a fitting reflection of that shift. The Fine Art Sale goes live on 24 September 2026 at Hamilton House, Mumbai, with public viewing running from 20 to 23 September, 11 AM to 6 PM daily.
