The Hurun Indian Art List 2025 is officially out and so are the rankings of the most successful artists. Leading the list of top 10 accomplished artists is Aneesh Kapoor, followed by Krishen Khanna, a centenarian who’s making news for his whopping Rs 91 crore turnover as well as the rich body of artistic works.
The list also demonstrates that age is just a number when it comes to creativity. While the youngest in the list is 60, the eldest is as old as a hundred! Furthermore, with just two debutants on the list, there is just one female name.
With a combined sales of over Rs 215 crore, these artists have given Indian art a global stage. Honours like the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan studded to their name, some of the most expensive artworks have neared the Rs 10 crore mark. Here’s the oldest artist on the list, ranking after the seventh-time top ranker on the Hurun India Art List.
Who is Krishen Khanna?
Born in July 1925, Krishen Khanna grew up in pre-partition Punjab. A self-taught Indian modernist painter, Krishen Khanna is the last surviving member of the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group (PAG), known for abstracted figurative works capturing everyday Indian life, human struggle, and universal themes.
However, his roots never lied in art. Working as a banker in Grindlays Bank after a brief stint at Mayo College of Art, Lahore, Khanna resigned in 1961. Invited by MF Hussain himself, Khanna joined the PAG in 1949. His first artwork, Spring Nude, was sold to Homi Babha for Rs 200. His primary medium became oil on canvas and he was deeply influenced by Indian classical culture, poetry, and expressionism, Khanna’s work has been rich in vibrant colours, exploring several social themes.
Krishen Khanna’s notable artworks
Khanna’s notable artworks include series inspired from rural life, Christian, and musical themes. Some of them include, Truckwallahs and Bandwallahs series, Road to Calvary, The Last Supper, La Pieta, and Last Sermon on the Battlefield.
Hurun India Art List – Top 10
The oldest living artist on the list, Padma Shri Krishen Khanna, is 100 years old. With an overall surge of Rs 43.1 crore, he saw a 140% increase in his personal turnover. Originally in New Delhi, Khanna’s artistic sense is rooted deeply in emotional connection. His most expensive piece was listed for Rs 9.26 crore, with one of his most notable works being ‘Christ Carrying His Cross.’
