Tyeb Mehta’s ‘Rickshaw Puller’ sells for ₹69.1 crore
Tyeb Mehta’s 2002 painting 'Rickshaw Puller' was sold for ₹69.1 crore at an inaugural auction held by the platform Volte Una. This sale marks the fourth-most expensive artwork sold at auction in India, highlighting the continued growth of the high-end Indian art market.
Why it matters
The sale demonstrates the robust valuation of modern Indian art and the emergence of new, specialized auction models that prioritize private, high-value transactions.
Indian painter Tyeb Mehta’s 2002 painting ‘Rickshaw Puller’ sold for ₹69.1 crore at the inaugural auction on Volte Una on Tuesday (October 13, 2026). This made it the fourth-most expensive artwork sold at auction in rupee terms.
The acrylic on canvas dates from 2002, in the final decade of Mr. Mehta’s career, and depicts the rickshaw puller, a figure he returned to in his later work.
Tushar Jiwarajka, founder of Volte Una, the single-lot auction platform, said, “We are thrilled that we were able to respect Tyeb Mr. Mehta’s painting by exposing it to the most serious and discreet collectors globally in private settings, 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.”
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