Art work is becoming safe haven
Till now people used to keep gold in the list of safe haven. But now times have changed and hobbies have also come in the category of safe haven. Yes, billionaire investors are increasingly turning to centuries-old artwork and antique assets. Recently Cyrus Poonawalla created a new record by buying Raja Ravi Varma's painting for Rs 167 crores. This deal shows that art is no longer an emotion but a high-return, low-risk investment where rarity, heritage and global demand are driving prices to new heights.
A big change is visible in the Indian art market these days. Centuries-old artworks, once considered a mere hobby of collectors, are now becoming safe haven assets for billionaires. The latest example of this was seen when Cyrus Poonawala bought Raja Ravi Varma's painting for Rs 167.2 crore, which is much more than the estimated price.
This trend is not limited to just one deal. Last year, at Christie's London auction, the Mughal era painting A Family of Cheetahs was sold for Rs 120 crore, whereas its estimated price was only Rs 7-8.5 crore. This 14-fold jump is an indication that old art is no longer undervalued. Similarly, in 2025, MF Husain's painting Gram Yatra was sold for ₹ 118 crore, which broke the record of modern Indian art. It is clear from these deals that the Indian art market is getting re-priced rapidly.
In the report of Financial Express, experts say that the biggest reason for this is shortage. Vintage artwork is limited. Cannot create new ones. Apart from this, their prices are not directly linked to the stock market, due to which the impact of market decline is less. Art market expert Anita Dalmia says that high net-worth investors are now taking art seriously for portfolio diversification. It has become a strong means of long term wealth preservation.
According to IIMA Aura Art Indian Art Index, Indian art recorded a 35% annual return in the third quarter of 2025. Whereas the CAGR of 5 years has been around 18%. These figures show that art is not just a prestige but also a strong investment option. Experts believe that collectors who invested in MF Husain in the 1990s and VS Gaitonde in the 2000s have earned manifold returns today. This is why now investors are increasingly moving towards old, rare and historical assets.
