S K Bakre was born in 1920 in Baroda, Gujarat, India.

In 2005, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Still Life (1947), offered in the Islamic and Indian Art: Including Contemporary Indian Pakistani and Middle Eastern Paintings by Bonhams, which concluded on 28 April 2005 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹3,19,487 ($7,309). 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.

In 2018, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1955), offered in the Boundless India by Sotheby's, which concluded on 29 November 2018 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹1,87,50,000 ($268,179.34). 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.

My interest in forms has gone far beyond the dull limitations of subject matter

In 2025, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Mona Lisa (1961), offered in the Historic Masterpieces by Asta Guru, which concluded on 17 December 2025 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹2,30,73,603 ($255,439.31). 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.

In 2003, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Lady Reading A Book (1962), 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 ₹1,98,000 ($4,315). 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.

In 2018, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (Cityscape) (1963), 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 ₹42,77,945 ($63,417.27). 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.

In 2025, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1963), offered in the Collector's Choice: Modern Indian Art by Asta Guru, which concluded on 27 June 2025 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹1,98,46,125 ($231,957.27). 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.

In 2005, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1964), 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 ₹11,59,488 ($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.

Bakre’s paintings seem like an extension of his sculptures, with the geometrical forms acquiring two-dimensional shapes…The jagged shapes could be made out of industrial waste expressing the tensions of modernism, which an expatriate could experience sharply. On the other hand, these could also echo mythic fantasies, Artist of Focus remote but accessible in their mask-like quality. The wonderful balance of forces conveys through entirely abstract means the multiple dynamics of the period.

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Moonlit Cityscape (1966), offered in the Contemporary Indian and Pakistani Paintings by Bonhams, which concluded on 14 September 2006 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹41,59,200 ($90,124). 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.