Noted artist Tyeb Mehta passed away at his residence in Mumbai on Thursday morning. Mehta was suffering from a heart ailment. The 83-year-old artist holds the record for the highest price an Indian painting has ever sold for in a public auction for 'Celebration' at Christie's in 2002.
Born in Kapadvanj, a town in Gujarat, Mehta is survived by his wife Sakhina, a son and a daughter.
In May 2005, his painting 'Kali' sold for Rs one crore at Saffronart's online auction. In December 2005, Mehta's painting 'Gesture' was sold for Rs 3.1 crore to Ranjit Malkani, chairman of Kuomi Travel, at the Osian's auction.
This makes it the highest price paid by an Indian for Indian contemporary art at an auction in India.
Mehta also received the Padma Bhushan award in 2007.