New Delhi: Indian modernist master Tyeb Mehta's 2002 painting "Rickshaw Puller" sold for Rs 69.1 crore at the inaugural auction of art platform Volte Una, setting a world auction record for the artist and becoming the fourth-most expensive Indian artwork sold at auction in rupee terms. The sale surpassed the previous auction record for Mehta, whose "Trussed Bull" fetched Rs 61.80 crore in April 2025.

The acrylic on canvas, created in the final decade of Mehta's career, depicts the rickshaw puller, a figure the modern Indian artist returned to throughout his career.

The single-lot auction platform, which launched on Sunday with the sale of Mehta's artwork, focuses on offering significant artworks individually rather than as part of large catalogues.

"We are thrilled that we were able to respect Tyeb Mehta's painting by exposing it to the most serious and discreet collectors globally in private settings," Tushar Jiwarajka, founder of Volte Una, said in a statement.

"And we have introduced a business model that allows the traditional buyer's premium to be significantly reduced, putting that money back in the pockets of consignors and successful bidders," he added.

The next auction, scheduled for the end of November, will feature a work by M F Husain from the renowned Herwitz Collection. 

Tags: