Prabhakar Kolte | Tuli Research Centre for India Studies

Introduction

Zodiac sign: Cancer
Place of Birth: Nerur Par, Maharashtra, India
State Country of Birth: Maharashtra, India

Chronicled Highlights 61982 – 2004

Prabhakar Kolte — Nerur Par, Maharashtra, India.

1982

Public Auction HighPainting

Osian's · Fn-Fn: Figurative Non-Figurative Narration: Auctions of Indian Modern & Contemporary Paintings & BooksMumbai · 27 November 2003

In 2003, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1982), offered in the Fn-Fn: Figurative Non-Figurative Narration: Auctions of Indian Modern & Contemporary Paintings & Books by Osian's, which concluded on 27 November 2003 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹1,43,000 ($3,116). 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.

Kolte, Prabhakar (Artist). Untitled, 1982 | Painting

Selling price

INR1,43,000

Below low estimate

Estimate

INR 2,00,000 – 2,75,000

Rate per sq in

INR 48.88

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

49.2 × 59.4 in (125 × 151 cm)

Lot

230 · Os.Mum/27.11.03

1984

Public Auction HighPainting

Osian's · Fn-Fn: Figurative Non-Figurative Narration: Auctions of Indian Modern & Contemporary Paintings & BooksMumbai · 27 November 2003

In 2003, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1984), offered in the Fn-Fn: Figurative Non-Figurative Narration: Auctions of Indian Modern & Contemporary Paintings & Books by Osian's, which concluded on 27 November 2003 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹2,75,000 ($5,993). 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.

Kolte, Prabhakar (Artist). Untitled, 1984 | Painting

Selling price

INR2,75,000

Within estimate

Estimate

INR 2,25,000 – 3,00,000

Rate per sq in

INR 62.6

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

66.4 × 66.1 in (169 × 168 cm)

Lot

231 · Os.Mum/27.11.03

1991

Public Auction HighPainting

Asta Guru · Stroke & StructureOnline · 21 June 2024

In 2024, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1991), offered in the Stroke & Structure by Asta Guru, which concluded on 21 June 2024 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹46,64,622 ($55,806.26). 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.

Kolte, Prabhakar (Artist). Untitled, 1991 | Painting

Selling price

INR46,64,622

17% above high estimate

Estimate

INR 30,00,000 – 40,00,000

Rate per sq in

INR 269

Medium

Mixed media on board

Dimensions

75 × 231.5 in (191 × 588 cm)

Signature

S/d: Centre Panel

Lot

134 · AG.Onl/21.06.24

Provenance

Property from a collection based in Mumbai. Artwork was acquired by the present owner directly from the artist

Research Categories

02Modern and Contemporary Indian Fine Arts

1994

Public Auction HighPainting

Christie's · Modern and Contemporary Indian ArtNew York · 20 September 2006

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1994), offered in the Modern and Contemporary Indian Art by Christie's, which concluded on 20 September 2006 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹12,15,720 ($26,400). 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.

Kolte, Prabhakar (Artist). Untitled, 1994 | Painting

Selling price

INR12,15,720

47% above high estimate

Estimate

INR 5,52,600 – 8,28,900

Rate per sq in

INR 1,055

Medium

Mixed media on board

Dimensions

39.3 × 29.3 in (100 × 75 cm)

Lot

121 · Ch.NeY/20.09.06

1995

Image 1/2

First Auction Appearance | BOOK.AUCCollage

Christie's · Indian Contemporary Paintings: Islamic Works of Art and Indian, Himalaya and South-East Asian ArtLondon · 16 October 1995

On 16 October 1995, made their debut in the Indian public auction market when Painting I was presented as Lot in Indian Contemporary Paintings: Islamic Works of Art and Indian, Himalaya and South-East Asian Art, conducted by Christie's 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.

Kolte, Prabhakar (Artist). Painting I, 1995 | Collage

Selling price

INR1,18,154

119% above high estimate

Estimate

INR 37,853 – 54,075

Rate per sq in

INR 99.31

Medium

Watercolour and collage mounted on board

Dimensions

29.9 × 39.8 in (76 × 101 cm)

Lot

45 · Ch.Lon/16.10.95

2004

Public Auction HighPainting

Christie's · Southeast Asian and Modern Indian Paintings: Including Contemporary ArtHong Kong · 29 May 2005

In 2005, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (2004), offered in the Southeast Asian and Modern Indian Paintings: Including Contemporary Art by Christie's, which concluded on 29 May 2005 at Hong Kong, achieving a sale price of ₹4,70,529 ($10,807). 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.

Kolte, Prabhakar (Artist). Untitled, 2004 | Painting

Selling price

INR4,70,529

Within estimate

Estimate

INR 3,61,382 – 5,31,188

Rate per sq in

INR 204

Medium

Acrylic on canvas

Dimensions

48 × 48 in (122 × 122 cm)

Lot

131 · Ch.HoK/29.05.05

Economics of Art

20 of 50

Public Auction Market (1987–2026) | Select Indicators

Annual Auction Sale Turnover
Average Sale Price Per Lot
Square Inch Rate Trend

Currency

Annual Auction Sale Turnover

This indicator tracks the Total Annual Auction Sales value of Prabhakar Kolte’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 Prabhakar Kolte’s public auction market presence.

Average Sale Price Per Lot

This measure calculates the Average Sale Price of all lots by Prabhakar Kolte 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.

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.

Introduction

Chronicled Highlights 61982 – 2004

Economics of Art

Record-high lots9

Public Auction Market (1987–2026) | Select Indicators

Annual Auction Sale Turnover

Average Sale Price Per Lot

Square Inch Rate Trend

Research Centre

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