Introduction
- Zodiac sign
- Capricorn
- Age
- 83
- Place of Birth
- Mongomery, Punjab, Undivided India | Present-day Pakistan
- Place of Death
- New Delhi, NCT of Delhi, India
- State Country of Birth
- Punjab, Undivided India | Present-day Pakistan
- State Country of Death
- NCT of Delhi, India
Chronicled Highlights
4 entries
Born
Kanwal Krishna
Kanwal Krishna — Mongomery, Punjab, Undivided India | Present-day Pakistan.
Krishna, Kanwal (Artist). Portrait of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at his enthronement. Oil on canvas laid to board, 1940 | Painting | EconomicsArt | 00870435
In 2025, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Portrait of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at his enthronement (1940), offered in the The Collection and Archive of Sir Basil Gould CBE by Bonhams, which concluded on 05 June 2025 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹1,77,65,337.84 ($207,120.4). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.
Krishna, Kanwal (Artist). A Tibetan Monastery. Watercolour on paper, 1951 | Painting | FineArts | 00357421
In 2023, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of A Tibetan Monastery (1951), offered in the Winter Online Auction by Saffronart, which concluded on 14 December 2023 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹10,95,600 ($13,200). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.
Krishna, Kanwal (Artist). Homage To Light Series. Mixed media on paper, 1986 | Painting | FineArts | 00561077
‘Light reveals the secret of darkness…’
‘Shadows give form to Light; otherwise Light is all blankness…’
‘…In Art Forms, Light creates shadows and not shadows create
Light…’
‘…Light reveals to us; Darkness makes us conscious…’
‘ We can reach Light only through our shadows; otherwise the source
of Light we can never trace. The realisation of our own weakness is
the true source of our new energy…’
‘New Art Forms are born and not created…’
In 2007, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Homage To Light Series (1986), offered in the Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series VIII by Osian's, which concluded on 31 January 2007 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹7,80,000 ($17,659). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.
‘Shadows give form to Light; otherwise Light is all blankness…’
‘…In Art Forms, Light creates shadows and not shadows create
Light…’
‘…Light reveals to us; Darkness makes us conscious…’
‘ We can reach Light only through our shadows; otherwise the source
of Light we can never trace. The realisation of our own weakness is
the true source of our new energy…’
‘New Art Forms are born and not created…’
In 2007, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Homage To Light Series (1986), offered in the Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series VIII by Osian's, which concluded on 31 January 2007 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹7,80,000 ($17,659). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.
1 / 2
Bonhams (Auction House). Modern and Contemporary Indian Paintings. 16 June 1999, London | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00861858
On 16 June 1999, Kanwal Krishna made their debut in the Indian public auction market when Preparing Curd was presented as Lot 30 in Modern and Contemporary Indian Paintings, conducted by Bonhams in London, UK. This auction marked the artist's first recorded appearance in the public auction market, establishing the earliest chapter of their auction history.
Economics of Art
Currency
This section showcases auction lots that achieved record-high sale prices, tracked by the date each record was set based on the artist's historical auction data.
Record-high lots4
Public Auction Market (1987–2026) | Select Indicators
Currency
Annual Auction Sale Turnover
This indicator tracks the Total Annual Auction Sales value of Kanwal Krishna’s artworks, beginning in 1987 through to the present.
It aggregates all sales across global auction houses into yearly totals.
Analysis reflected in the chart:
The turnover graph highlights periods of strong growth, moments of market correction, and resilience during downturns. Peaks often align with landmark works coming to public auction, while troughs may indicate reduced supply or weaker demand. Over time, the curve illustrates the overall trajectory of Kanwal Krishna’s public auction market presence.
It aggregates all sales across global auction houses into yearly totals.
Analysis reflected in the chart:
The turnover graph highlights periods of strong growth, moments of market correction, and resilience during downturns. Peaks often align with landmark works coming to public auction, while troughs may indicate reduced supply or weaker demand. Over time, the curve illustrates the overall trajectory of Kanwal Krishna’s public auction market presence.
Average Sale Price Per Lot
This measure calculates the Average Sale Price of all lots by Kanwal Krishna sold each year.
It smooths out fluctuations caused by the quantity of works offered and focuses on the Average Sale Price level per artwork.
Analysis reflected in the chart:
Rising average sale prices indicate growing collector confidence and a stronger willingness to pay higher amounts per work. Assuming the mix of mediums remains relatively stable over time, the proportion of works on paper typically priced lower than works on canvas adds important context to understanding these market movements.
It smooths out fluctuations caused by the quantity of works offered and focuses on the Average Sale Price level per artwork.
Analysis reflected in the chart:
Rising average sale prices indicate growing collector confidence and a stronger willingness to pay higher amounts per work. Assuming the mix of mediums remains relatively stable over time, the proportion of works on paper typically priced lower than works on canvas adds important context to understanding these market movements.
Square Inch Rate Trend
The Square Inch Rate normalizes prices by the size of each artwork, showing the average sale value per square inch over time.
This allows fair comparisons between smaller works and larger canvases.
Analysis reflected in the chart:
The Square Inch Rate shown in the graph combines various medium types such as canvas, paper, board, and others. Historically, works on canvas and board have broadly commanded higher prices compared to works on paper.
This allows fair comparisons between smaller works and larger canvases.
Analysis reflected in the chart:
The Square Inch Rate shown in the graph combines various medium types such as canvas, paper, board, and others. Historically, works on canvas and board have broadly commanded higher prices compared to works on paper.
Research Centre
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