Gopal Samantray - Welcome

"India Contemporary curated by Veer Hooda" presents a rare opportunity for Collectors and Art lovers in Europe to acquire the original works of highly established Indian Contemporary Artists and create a connection with one of the most vibrant and fast growing art market in the world.

The Auction is curated by internationally acclaimed Indo-European artist - Veer Hooda - in collaboration with the highly esteemed NIV Art Center, New Delhi and available exclusively on Catawiki.


About the Artist: Gopal Samantray: ig : @gopal_samantray

Gopal Samantray is a contemporary Indian artist, born in 1976 in the village of Adhanga, Odisha, where his early life close to forests and wildlife deeply shaped his artistic vision. He completed both his BFA and MFA from the B.K. College of Art and Craft in Odisha in the early 2000s, and went on to establish himself in the Indian contemporary art scene with a distinctive visual language that blends surrealism, figuration, and ecological commentary.

Samantray’s work focuses on the impact of environmental degradation, human encroachment, and habitat loss, often using animal imagery placed in uncanny, displaced contexts to provoke reflection on the fragile relationship between humans and nature. His vibrant, surreal compositions explore themes of deforestation, global warming, and coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Over the years, Samantray has exhibited widely across India in both solo and group shows. Notable exhibitions include:

“Dis Mis Placed” at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi (2010) — a solo show exploring displacement and environmental themes.

“Fragmented Earth – The Last Call” curated by ArtKonsult in New Delhi (2012).

“The Enigma of a New Landscape” at ArtDistrict 13, New Delhi (2016) — where his paintings juxtaposed wild animals with urban surroundings, emphasizing ecological anxiety.

“Junglenama” at Saraca Art Gallery, Lucknow (2022) — a series of acrylic and mixed-media works underscoring human–wildlife coexistence.

His works have also been shown in major art events such as the India Art Fair 2025, and in international group exhibitions in Singapore, Dubai, Australia, reflecting broader engagement with global art networks.

Through his exhibitions, Samantray continues to foreground urgent environmental concerns while inviting dialogue between art, ecology, and viewer consciousness.


About Veer Hooda : ig : @vi_hov

Veer Hooda is an Indo-European (Austrian) contemporary artist based in Vienna, whose practice is shaped by a deep connection to his Indian roots and a great love for his now home, Europe.

Veer Hooda has exhibited across some of the top galleries and exhibitions across the world and has recently finished his sold-out show in Miami Art Basel 2025, this year (2026) 2he will be exhibiting in, among other highly esteemed exhibitions, Venice Biennale 2026, ArtExpo New York 2026, multiple exhibitions across Europe and Austria and returning to Art Basel Miami at the end of the year.

While his own work reflects a strong conceptual and material sensibility developed through years of creative and professional experience, Hooda is equally driven by a clear mission: to make outstanding Indian artistic talent more visible and accessible within the European art market.

Positioned between India and Europe, Hooda acts as a cultural bridge, offering early access to artists and narratives that are quickly gaining significant international recognition already — making his curatorial and artistic vision a distinct insider perspective at a pivotal moment for Indian Contemporary Art.


About NIV Art Center: ig : @nivartcenter

NIV Art Centre is a leading contemporary art institution based in New Delhi, dedicated to advancing arts, films and new media practices within a global framework. With a strong national cultural vision and an international outlook, NIV serves as a dynamic platform for artistic research, production, and exchange.

Through its international residency program, NIV brings together Indian and global artists, offering professional studio spaces and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration within one of Asia’s most influential metropolitan art environments.

NIV functions as a connector across the art ecosystem—linking artists, institutions, and audiences—and stands as a hub for cultural dialogue, innovation, and global artistic engagement.


The collaboration between Veer Hooda & NIV Art Center:

An exclusive collaboration between Veer Hooda and NIV Art Center, marks a decisive step in bringing leading Indian contemporary artists to the European art market through curated exchange and long-term collaboration.

India’s contemporary art scene is experiencing an exceptional moment—dynamic, intellectual, with many voices, and rapidly growing in both global visibility and investment value. With increasing interest from international collectors and institutions, this is a compelling time for European collectors to engage with Indian Contemporary Art at a pivotal stage of its global ascent.

For this collaboration, Veer Hooda personally curates a selection of outstanding works by established Indian Contemporary Artists in collaboration with NIV, chosen for their artistic depth, originality, and long-term relevance. Each artwork reflects the strength and diversity of today’s Indian art landscape while resonating with an international collector base.

The curated works will be offered exclusively via auction on Catawiki, providing European collectors and art lovers direct access to museum-level Indian Contemporary Art through a trusted international platform.

This collaboration is not just an exhibition—it is a gateway: a carefully curated introduction of India’s most compelling Contemporary Voices to Europe’s collectors, at a moment when the market is vibrant, forward-moving, and full of opportunity.


About the Artwork:

Name: Welcome

Year: 2011

Size: 3 feet (92 cm) x 3 feet (cm) x 5 cm

Technique: Acrylic on canvas

Signed and Authenticity: All works are hand signed by the artist and a signed Certificate of Authenticity for all works will be provided by NIV Art Center.

Packaging: The painting will be packaged professionally and shipped rolled in a tube. The paintings are fully insured on the way to the buyer.

Duties and import: The import duties on original artworks to most EU countries is 0%, however some countries may apply an Import VAT of 5-12% and/or clearance fees which has to be paid by the buyer before delivery, this has to be done online in most cases through the service of the delivery company. This is a fairly simple process, however, we will gladly assist with anything if needed.