Sonam Sikarwar - Dolphin

"India Contemporary curated by Veer Hooda" presents a rare opportunity for collectors and art lovers in Europe to acquire original works by highly established Indian contemporary artists, and to connect with one of the most vibrant and fast-growing art markets in the world.

India Contemporary is a curated initiative that brings leading Indian contemporary artists directly to European collectors. Each artist is selected personally by Veer Hooda for artistic depth, originality and long-term relevance, and each work is an original, sourced from the artist's own studio and shipped with full documentation. The programme exists because the distance between the Indian studio and the European wall has, until now, been the main thing standing between these artists and the collectors who would want them. India Contemporary closes that distance: no intermediary market, no re-sale mark-up, direct access at an early stage.

India's contemporary art scene is in an exceptional moment - dynamic, intellectual, many-voiced, and growing quickly in both global visibility and investment value. With rising 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 ascent.

The works are offered exclusively by auction on Catawiki.

The works are curated in Vienna by Vijit Veer Hooda and shipped to you directly from the artist's studio in India.

About the Artist: Dr. Sonam Sikarwar

Dr. Sonam Sikarwar (b. 1985) is an Indian contemporary painter from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, where she was exposed to the art and culture of the city from a young age. She completed her M.A. in Fine Arts in 2010 and her Ph.D. in Fine Art in 2016. In 2007, while still in college, she joined Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, which set her course as an artist.

Her work has been recognised by the Porosh Pathor Art Foundation (2022), the Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation (Kalanand special merit Grand Award, 2020-21; Kalanand city award, 2017), the Rajeshwari Kala Mahotsav drawing award (2020), the Kala Uday Art Society, Chandigarh (2017) and the Ram Manohar Sinha State Award (2016).

Artistic vision

Her abstraction moves in free-flowing forms, using texture, space and shape to reach the viewer's sensibilities, in acrylics, pen and ink and dry pastels. Her current focus explores the intricate world of seeds, as a symbol of the potential for positive change. In her own words: "Through my art, I convey a message of interconnectedness, emphasizing the importance of preserving all life on Earth."

Exhibitions

Solo: Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal (2012).

International: Gwangju International Art Fair, South Korea (2023); "A Perceptual Ode", celebrating 50 years of India-Korea relations, Busan and Jeju, South Korea (2023); Chennai Art Biennale, 50th anniversary of Indo-Korean relations (2024).

Selected group exhibitions: Advay, Habitat Centre (2023) and Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi (2022); Horizon, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai (2022); Dinma, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal (2021); Mithila Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal (2019); Artrendz, Coimbatore (2019); National Exhibition of Paintings by Women Painters of India, JKKC (2018); Goa Affordable Art Fest (2018); Axiom, Lalit Kala Akademi (2017); Art Beyond Boundaries, Bhopal (2016); Abstracts festival, Nehru Centre, Mumbai (2014); Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur (2009).

Her work is in the collections of Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, and Uttarayan, Vadodara, as well as government and private collections.

About the Artwork

Artist: Dr. Sonam Sikarwar
Name: Dolphin
Year: 2021
Size: 24 x 24 inches (61 x 61 cm)
Technique: Acrylic on canvas

Hand signed by the artist. The work is sold unframed and shipped rolled in a tube.

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 in the world and recently finished his sold-out show at Art Basel Miami 2025. This year he will be exhibiting at, among others, the Venice Biennale 2026 and ArtExpo New York 2026, in 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 over 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, he acts as a cultural bridge, offering early access to artists and narratives that are already gaining significant international recognition - a distinct insider perspective at a pivotal moment for Indian contemporary art.

Signed and authenticity: The work is hand signed by the artist, and a signed Certificate of Authenticity is provided with every work by India Contemporary by Vijit Veer Hooda.

Packaging & insurance: The painting is packaged professionally and shipped rolled in a tube. It arrives unstretched and will need to be restretched onto a frame on arrival - any framer will do this routinely.

Shipped from: This work is shipped from India by NIV Art Center and is fully insured on its way to the buyer. We accompany the buyer through every step, from collection to the door, and are on hand for anything the process needs.