Introduction
- Date of Birth
- 08 Jul 1918
- Zodiac sign
- Cancer
- Date of Death
- 05 Sep 2002
- Age
- 84
- Place of Birth
- Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
- State Country of Birth
- Madhya Pradesh, India
Chronicled Highlights
7 entries
1918Born
Devayani Krishna
Devayani Krishna was born in 1918 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). The White Lion of the Snow. Gouache on paper pasted on board, 1950 | Painting | FineArts | 00357691
It is difficult to describe the power of [Devayani Krishna’s] drawings. It is as though a great choreographer compressed the total movement of the dance, such as the dance of Shiva, into a single ideograph.
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled. Conte and charcoal on paper, 1960 | Painting | FineArts | 00357692
In 2023, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1960), offered in the Winter Online Auction by Saffronart, which concluded on 14 December 2023 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹37,84,800 ($45,600). 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, Devayani (Artist). Effect Of The Moon On The Mind & The Brain. Charcoal and Conte on paper, 1960 | Drawing | FineArts | 00376617
I was angry with Kan (Kanwal Krishna, her husband), who was in a phase of transition, formulating ideas and techniques after his travels in Europe. For not communicating what I sought to learn. And lines were the most direct way of expressing my feelings swiftly through three big drawings. The beginnings of such forms with the same idea of transparency. The series emerged as ‘The effect of the moon on the mind and the brain’, which may be sourced to the words of a saint that I had once heard. The drawings were so large that I achieved the sweeping circular strokes by stretching the arm that held the crayon and rotating my entire body while sitting on the drawing.
Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled (Townscape). Black conte crayon on paper, c. early 1960s | Painting | FineArts | 00417353
In 2022, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (Townscape) (1961), offered in the The Surya Collection: Property from Mrs. Ute Rettberg by Sotheby's, which concluded on 31 May 2022 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹14,79,758.11 ($19,053.31). 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, Devayani (Artist). Mahakala. Watercolour on paper, 1970 | Painting | 00879873
In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Mahakala (1970), offered in the Masterpieces & Museum Quality Series VI: With Rare Drawings and Books on Indian Contemporary Art by Osian's, which concluded on 01 March 2006 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹6,90,000 ($15,558). 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, Devayani (Artist) and Keshav Malik (Curator). Devayani - A Retrospective 1940-2000. New Delhi: National Gallery of Modern Art, 2000 | Solo Exhibition Catalogue | 00882952
In 2000, Devayani A Retrospective 1940-2000 marked a major milestone in the exhibition history of Devayani Krishna, offering a retrospective survey of the artist's artistic production
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Bonhams (Auction House). Islamic and Indian Art - Including Modern and Contemporary Paintings from the Indian Sub- Continent. 17 October 2002, London | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00861891
On 17 October 2002, Devayani Krishna made their debut in the Indian public auction market when What and Where' series; Ma…' Series was presented as Lot 662 in Islamic and Indian Art: Including Modern and Contemporary Paintings from the Indian Subcontinent, 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 Devayani 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 Devayani 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 Devayani Krishna’s public auction market presence.
Average Sale Price Per Lot
This measure calculates the Average Sale Price of all lots by Devayani 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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