> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/vivan-sundaram · updated 2026-11-02

# Vivan Sundaram (1943–2023)

## What is Vivan Sundaram’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 30 auction results for Vivan Sundaram at 7 houses since 2006. Over the last 24 months the median price was $8,060 including buyer’s premium (middle half $4,973–$289,351, n=8). The auction record is $896,000 for Inbetweenness (2020, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inbetweenness, 1967 | Oil paint | $896,000 | Sotheby's | Mar 2020 |
| 2 | Ship Aground, 1988-89 | Oil on canvas | $344,860 | Pundole's | Sep 2025 |
| 3 | The Carpenter & His Wife, 1989 | Oil on canvas | $332,406 | AstaGuru Auction House | Jun 2026 |
| 4 | Kites in the Sky, 1989 | Oil on canvas | $274,999 | Saffronart | Sep 2026 |
| 5 | Untitled (A Winter Night), 1963 | Oil paint | $88,200 | Christie's | Sep 2024 |
| 6 | Little Grey Picture, 1979 | Oil paint | $38,400 | Sotheby's | Mar 2020 |
| 7 | Untitled (from the Re-take of Amrita Series), 2001 | Silver gelatin prints on photographic paper | $34,020 | Christie's | Sep 2022 |
| 8 | A Set of Four Drawings, 1988 | Charcoal on paper | $31,293 | Pundole's | Aug 2023 |
| 9 | Untitled, 1990 | Charcoal on paper | $13,583 | Christie's | Mar 2006 |
| 10 | Re-take of Amrita, 2001 | Digital photomontage | $12,500 | Christie's | Mar 2013 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 6 | $303,703 |
| Other | 5 | $7,314 |
| Works on paper | 12 | $6,177 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $303,703 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $10,921 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $6,715 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 30 results from 7 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Vivan Sundaram is an Indian artist with 37 auction lots recorded since 2006, median price $9,562. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by Vivan Sundaram sold in 2026 for $274,999, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Vivan Sundaram work worth?

Across 30 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Vivan Sundaram work is $9,562.

The median Vivan Sundaram work on paper sells for $6,930 across 11 lots.

The median Vivan Sundaram painting sells for $88,200 across 7 lots.

The median Vivan Sundaram photograph sells for $12,500 across 3 lots.

Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 3 | $3,530 | $6,684 | — | 2025-03-03 |
| Paintings | 7 | $88,200† | $896,000 | — | 2026-09-19 |
| Works on Paper | 12 | $6,930† | $31,293 | 91.7% | 2025-07-21 |
| Photography | 3 | $12,500 | $34,020 | — | 2022-09-21 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $338,633 | $896,000 | — | 2026-09-19 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Vivan Sundaram's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3 lots) median $3,530. Paintings (7 lots) median $88,200, record $896,000. A typical Vivan Sundaram painting sells for around 25× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $338,633.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $73,759–$327,395† | $181,600† | $896,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $5,657–$8,246 | $6,557 | $31,293 |

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2020 | $896,000 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $344,860 |
| Photography | 2022 | $34,020 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $31,293 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $13,583 |
| Photography | 2013 | $12,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $6,684 |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $3,530 |

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Vivan Sundaram worth?

Across 30 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Vivan Sundaram work is $9,562. The median Vivan Sundaram work on paper sells for $6,930 across 11 lots. The median Vivan Sundaram painting sells for $88,200 across 7 lots. The median Vivan Sundaram photograph sells for $12,500 across 3 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a Vivan Sundaram work on paper?

Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Vivan Sundaram work on paper is $6,930. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Vivan Sundaram's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Vivan Sundaram work on paper is $31,293.

### What is Vivan Sundaram's auction record?

Vivan Sundaram's auction record is $896,000, set in 2020.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Vivan Sundaram auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/vivan-sundaram (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.