Prabhakar Barwe | Tuli Research Centre for India Studies

Introduction

Date of Birth: 16 Mar 1936
Zodiac sign: Pisces
Date of Death: 06 Dec 1995
Age: 59
Place of Birth: Nagaon, Maharashtra, India
Place of Death: Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Spouse(s): Neera p barve
Children: Kumar p barve
State Country of Birth: Maharashtra, India
State Country of Death: Maharashtra, India

Exhibitions

1961
1. Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1963
1. Book Bay Gallery, Wisconsin, USA
1967
1. Taj Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1968
1. Taj Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1969
1. 5th International Young Artists Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
2. Art of India and Iran, USA
3. Man and His World, Indian Pavilion, Montreal, Canada
1970
1. Indian Painters, Gallery Coray, Zurich, Switzerland
2. Indian Painters, Hamburg, Germany
3. Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1971
1. 2nd International Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
2. Gallery Chanakya, New Delhi, India
1972
1. Inaugural Exhibition, Gallerie Surya, Freinsheim, West Germany
1973
1. Gallery Chemould, Mumbai, India
1975
1. 3rd International Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
2. Inaugural Exhibition, Grey Art Gallery, New York, USA
1976
1. National Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
2. International Biennale, Menton, France
1977
1. Pictorial Space: A Point of View on Contemporary Indian Art, Curated by Geeta Kapur, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India (14 December - 03 January)
1978
1. 4th International Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
2. New Contemporaries, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
3. Gallery Chanakya, New Delhi, India
4. Fourth International Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India
1981
1. Indian Painting Today, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1982
1. Inaugural Exhibition, Roopankar, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, India
2. 5th International Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
3. Modern Indian Paintings, From the Collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D. C., USA
4. Contemporary Art Gallery, Ahmedabad, India
1983
1. Gallery Chemould, Mumbai, India
1984
1. Gallery 7, Mumbai, India
1985
1. Six Indian Painters, Ankara & Istanbul, Turkey
2. Six Indian Painters, Titograd, Yugoslavia
1986
1. Search for Roots, Circulating Exhibition, Organised by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India
1987
1. Gallery Chemould, Mumbai, India
1988
1. Seventeen Indian Painters, 25th anniversary Exhibition, Gallery Chemould, Mumbai, India
2. Diamond Jubilee All India Exhibition, Organised by All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society, New Delhi, India
  13 Feb 1988 to 27 Feb 1988
1989
1. 9th Biennale International, Valparaiso, Chile
1990
1. Sophia Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1991
1. State of the Art: An Exhibition of Electronically-aided Canvases, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India

40 of 91

Jehangir Art Gallery (Organiser). Thirty Indian Artists, 1985 | Group Exhibition Catalogue | 00883563

1969
1. 5th International Young Artists Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
2. Art of India and Iran, USA
3. Man and His World, Indian Pavilion, Montreal, Canada
1970
1. Indian Painters, Gallery Coray, Zurich, Switzerland
2. Indian Painters, Hamburg, Germany
1971
1. 2nd International Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
1972
1. Inaugural Exhibition, Gallerie Surya, Freinsheim, West Germany
1975
1. 3rd International Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
2. Inaugural Exhibition, Grey Art Gallery, New York, USA
1976
1. National Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
2. International Biennale, Menton, France
1977
1. Pictorial Space: A Point of View on Contemporary Indian Art, Curated by Geeta Kapur, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India (14 December - 03 January)
1978
1. 4th International Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
2. New Contemporaries, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1981
1. Indian Painting Today, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1982
1. Inaugural Exhibition, Roopankar, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, India
2. 5th International Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
3. Modern Indian Paintings, From the Collection of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D. C., USA
1984
1. Gallery 7, Mumbai, India
1985
1. Six Indian Painters, Ankara & Istanbul, Turkey
2. Six Indian Painters, Titograd, Yugoslavia
1986
1. Search for Roots, Circulating Exhibition, Organised by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India
1988
1. Seventeen Indian Painters, 25th anniversary Exhibition, Gallery Chemould, Mumbai, India
2. Diamond Jubilee All India Exhibition, Organised by All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society, New Delhi, India
  13 Feb 1988 to 27 Feb 1988
1989
1. 9th Biennale International, Valparaiso, Chile
1991
1. State of the Art: An Exhibition of Electronically-aided Canvases, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1992
1. Journeys Within Landscape, Organised by Sakshi Art Gallery, at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
  21 Jan 1992 to 28 Jan 1992
1993
1. Wounds, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata, India
2. Still Life, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, India
  27 Oct 1993 to 16 Nov 1993
3. Parallel Perceptions, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, India
  22 Nov 1993 to 11 Dec 1993
4. Reflection and Images, Organised by Vadehra Art Gallery at, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
  30 Aug 1993 to 05 Sep 1993
5. Reflection and Images: Exhibition of Paintings, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
  06 Aug 1993 to 21 Aug 1993
6. Trends and Images, Centre of International Modern Art, Kolkata, India
1995
1. Water Colours: A Broader Spectrum-II, Gallery Chanakya, New Delhi, India with C. Douglas, H. Haloi, P. Kolte, M. Rai, V. Sundaram (October)
2. Art For Cry: An exhibition of contemporary Indian art In aid of deprived Indian children, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
  30 Jan 1995
3. Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
  17 Feb 1995
4. AIFACS Regional Centre Inaugural Art Exhibition, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society Regional Centre, Panchkula, India
  25 Nov 1995
1997
1. AIFACS Regional Centre Inaugural Art Exhibition, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society Regional Centre, Panchkula, India
  01 Mar 1997
2. AIFACS Regional Centre Inaugural Art Exhibition, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society Regional Centre, Panchkula, India
  25 Sep 1997

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Jehangir Art Gallery (Organiser). Thirty Indian Artists, 1985 | Group Exhibition Catalogue | 00883563

Chronicled Highlights

24 entries

1936Born

Prabhakar Barwe

Prabhakar Barwe was born in 1936 in Nagaon, Maharashtra, India.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Ethereal Transition. Oil on canvas, 1969 | Painting | 00876745

In 1998, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Ethereal Transition (1969), offered in the Twentieth Century Indian Art by Christie's, which concluded on 02 June 1998 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹2,20,135 ($5,277). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Untitled. Acid colour on dupion silk stitched on cloth, 1968-1970 | Painting | 00881128

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1970), offered in the Forty Masterpieces Museum Quality Series VII by Osian's, which concluded on 09 September 2006 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹48,00,000 ($103,739). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Ivory Eyes. Enamel on canvas, 1976 | Painting | FineArts | 00598220

In 2005, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Ivory Eyes (1976), offered in the Summer Online Auction: Modern and Contemporary Indian Art by Saffronart, which concluded on 12 May 2005 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹17,50,100 ($40,418). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Ancient River. Enamel, 1982 | Painting | FineArts | 00599670

In 2003, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Ancient River (1982), offered in the Indian and Southeast Asian Art: Including 20th Century Indian Paintings by Christie's, which concluded on 17 September 2003 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹4,11,595 ($8,959). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Silent Observer. Enamel on canvas, 1983 | Painting | FineArts | 00600332

In 2004, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Silent Observer (1983), offered in the Modern Indian Paintings: Summer Online Auction by Saffronart, which concluded on 06 May 2004 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹8,46,071 ($18,932). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). On the Shore. Enamel on canvas, 1984 | Painting | FineArts | 00374629

In 1997, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of On the Shore (1984), offered in the Indian Contemporary Art by Christie's, which concluded on 04 June 1997 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹1,75,020 ($4,892). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Withered Leaf. Enamel paint on canvas, 1986 | Painting | FineArts | 00418069

In 2022, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Withered Leaf (1986), offered in the The Fine Art Sale: Including the Property from the Collections of Neerja and Mukund Lath and Dilip De by Pundole, which concluded on 13 September 2022 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹3,50,00,000 ($439,788.55). 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.

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Christie's (Auction House). Contemporary Indian Art (Charity Auction). 20 December 1987, Bombay | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00861836

On 20 December 1987, Prabhakar Barwe made their debut in the Indian public auction market when Near the Lake was presented as Lot 4 in Contemporary Indian Art (Charity Auction), conducted by Christie's in Mumbai, India. This auction marked the artist's first recorded appearance in the public auction market, establishing the earliest chapter of their auction history.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Rare Bird With Blue Egg. Oil on canvas, 1988 | Painting | FineArts | 00600037

In 2003, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Rare Bird With Blue Egg (1988), offered in the Winter Online Auction: Modern Indian Paintings by Saffronart, which concluded on 04 December 2003 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹6,36,363 ($13,949). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Elements of Kitchen. Oil on canvas, 1988 | Painting | FineArts | 00416104

Every component of a painting, be it form or colour, in a way gets transformed into space. That is to say that they (the components) get synthesized with the homogenous visual result of the painting space. In the process of such transformation, colour or form gets detached from its restricted ‘actual-meaning-context’. And, from this alone, the visual result of the painting in totality is born. In my paintings such ‘result’, I feel, is abstract. However, this abstract visual result is created by the synthesis of various concrete components of the painting. For example, it seems to me that in the painting ‘The Chair and the Leaf’, the visual experience that is created by the synthesis of its several concrete components, is like a thoughtfree space of the mind, or like an undivided, unruffled mental state. At least, such visual experience is ‘expected’ by me from my paintings.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Being of Power. Acrylic on Canvas, 1988 | Painting | FineArts | 00417992

Barwe had an agenda that he followed through his work: the agenda of rendering possible the creation of an art that could validate its affiliations at the levels of being both authentic in its own history, and contemporaneous in the sense of transcending the commonly assumed opposition of tradition and modernity, of representation and abstraction. In fact, a work by Barwe at first glance seems to be a collection of carefully drawn, identifiable objects strewn about in a space the definition of which is never made clear. The viewer is made then, to embark upon a itinerary of her/ his own, through this configuration of boundless spaces and scattered objects, entering into a process of recreating the meanings suggested within the work; the process that engenders a renewed questioning of conventionalized expression, leaving the participant enriched.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). First Cloud. Enamel on canvas, 1989 | Painting | 00867101

In 2020, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of First Cloud (1989), offered in the Modern Indian Art by Asta Guru, which concluded on 16 July 2020 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹1,19,31,214 ($158,571.2). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Canvas And Apple. Enamel, 1989-1990 | Painting | FineArts | 00375455

In 2002, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Canvas And Apple (1990), offered in the Indian and Southeast Asian Art: Including 20th Century Indian Paintings by Christie's, which concluded on 19 September 2002 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹4,05,033 ($8,365). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Ivory Heart. Enamel on canvas, 1990 | Painting | 00880847

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Ivory Heart (1990), offered in the The ABC Series: Art, Book & Cinema by Osian's, which concluded on 20 July 2006 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹43,70,000 ($93,296). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Eighty-Five Safety Pins. Enamel on canvas, 1990 | Painting | FineArts | 00334520

In 2018, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Eighty-Five Safety Pins (1990), offered in the South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art by Christie's, which concluded on 12 June 2018 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹50,65,987.5 ($75,099.4). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Canvas Bag. Oil on canvas, 1990 | Painting | FineArts | 00338258

In 2019, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Canvas Bag (1990), offered in the Modern Indian Art by Asta Guru, which concluded on 28 March 2019 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹82,02,710 ($118,873.31). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Fan The Flame. Enamel on canvas, 1991 | Painting | FineArts | 00598043

In 2005, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Fan The Flame (1991), offered in the Indian and Southeast Asian Art: Including Modern and Contemporary Indian Art by Christie's, which concluded on 31 March 2005 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹14,70,000 ($33,600). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Near the Bridge. Acrylic and enamel on canvas, 1991 | Painting | FineArts | 00418568

A playful relationship exists between form and space. Indeed, what is form in one context becomes space in another and vice versa. Form and space are so interlinked that it is difficult to talk of them separately.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). The Chess-Board. Enamel paint on canvas, 1992 | Painting | 00867769

In 2020, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of The Chess-Board (1992), offered in the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art by Sotheby's, which concluded on 29 September 2020 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹2,87,19,048.96 ($388,872.48). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Solitary Reaper - Carrom. Enamel on canvas, 1993 | Painting | FineArts | 00598940

In 2005, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Solitary Reaper - Carrom (1993), offered in the Indian And Southeast Asian Art: Including Modern And Contemporary Indian Art by Christie's, which concluded on 21 September 2005 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹30,56,832 ($69,600). 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.

Barwe, Prabhakar (Artist). Many Identities of the Self. Enamel paint on canvas, 1995 | Painting | FineArts | 00372240

In 1995, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Many Identities of the Self (1995), offered in the Indian Contemporary Paintings: Islamic Works of Art and Indian, Himalaya and South-East Asian Art by Christie's, which concluded on 16 October 1995 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹1,50,144 ($4,379). 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.

Asta Guru (Auction House). Collectors Choice - Modern Indian Art. 26 June 2021, Online | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862386

In 2021, an artwork by Prabhakar Barwe was featured on the cover of Asta Guru: Collectors Choice (June 2021, Mumbai), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.

deRivaz & Ives (Auction House) and Neville Tuli (Curator). Indian Modern Fine Arts. 22 January 2022, Online | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862412

In 2022, an artwork by Prabhakar Barwe was featured on the cover of deRivaz & Ives: Indian Modern Fine Arts (January 2022, New Delhi), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.

deRivaz & Ives (Auction House) and Neville Tuli (Curator). Modern Indian Fine Arts & Artefacts - And Related Rare Books & Catalogues. 09 December 2023, Online | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862498

In 2023, an artwork by Prabhakar Barwe was featured on the cover of deRivaz & Ives: Modern Indian Fine Arts & Artefacts (December 2023, New Delhi), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.

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 lots18

Research Centre

Posts 1

Prabhakar Barwe's "Blown Hourglass"
Barwe's 1980 enamel on canvas artwork, "Blown Hourglass" has witnessed remarkable financial dynamics through its journey spanning over 21 years across three distinctive auctions. The journey commenced in 1999, when the painting first graced the auction floor of Christie's London, fetching a sum of Rs 215,496. A short leap of five years took it to Christie's New York in 2004, where it's value almost doubled, securing Rs 481,286. Sixteen years thereafter, the artwork made a resounding comeback in 2020 at a Sotheby's New York auction. Here "Blown Hourglass" fetched Rs 7,427,230, reflecting a notable appreciation in its market value since its debut. The 21-year span between its first and latest auction highlights a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.36%, shedding light on the escalating allure and investment potential of Barwe's "Blown Hourglass" and his other notable works.
2_FineArts 6_EconomicsArt
Prabhakar Barwe Geeta Kapur
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Introduction

Exhibitions

Chronicled Highlights

Economics of Art

Record-high lots18

Public Auction Market (1987–2026) | Select Indicators

Annual Auction Sale Turnover

Average Sale Price Per Lot

Square Inch Rate Trend

Research Centre

Posts 1

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