Sohan Qadri

In 2005, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Swan Lake (Chachoki Phagwara) (1964), offered in the Indian Contemporary Art: Paintings, Drawings & Sculpture by Osian's, which concluded on 09 February 2005 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹4,83,000 ($11,068). 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.

Sohan’s incipient artistic talent was first expressed in the village pond. Before bathing he would play with lumps of mud, shaping them into various toys using sticks and stones. He gouged, scratched and marked the forms – techniques that still prevail in his work – to define features such as eyes and noses. The visual influences of his childhood were representative of Arcadian life in India, where nature is pervasive. Qadri grew up encircled by the Kangra hills, lush woodlands, gushing streams and a patchwork of cotton and wheat fields.

In 2025, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Receding Symphonies (1966), offered in the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art by Bonhams, which concluded on 09 December 2025 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹1,14,72,136.65 ($127,518.63). 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 2026, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1976), offered in the South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art by Christie's, which concluded on 25 March 2026 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹1,90,92,001.44 ($203,200). 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.

In 2004, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Invocation 12 (1977), offered in the Indian and Islamic Art: Including 20th Century Indian and Middle Eastern Paintings by Christie's, which concluded on 15 October 2004 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹88,628 ($1,933). 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.

People are always interested in dreams. I am interested in the question: ‘Who is the dreamer?’ I would like to know: ‘Who is the artist beyond the artist?’ What I try to express in my art is a synthesis of emptiness and peace, radiating power

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (2005), offered in the Indian Art: Including Miniatures and Modern Indian Paintings by Sotheby's, which concluded on 19 September 2006 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹11,06,640 ($24,000). 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 2023, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Sunyata VI (2005), offered in the Summer Online Auction: Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art by Saffronart, which concluded on 29 June 2023 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹33,60,000 ($41,227). 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 (2010), offered in the 25th Anniversary Evening Sale by Saffronart, which concluded on 27 September 2025 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹72,00,000 ($81,356). 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.