Sakti Burman

I don't paint dreams, I paint in a dream.

Sakti Burman

Contemporary Artist

About Artist

Born in 1935, Sakti, was raised in undivided Bengal, graduated from the Government College of arts and crafts, Kolkata and later got admitted to Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts, Paris in 1956 with hardwork, determination and at the persuasion of his brothers. His love for art remained through his childhood to the turmoils of partition culminating with him finally studying art academically.

While the images in his paintings trace their way back to the stories in Indian as well as European mythology alongside his memories, he also claims to have had members of his family find a recurring appearance in his paintings.
Transparency, earthly colours, overlapping figures, visual textures, pointillism, design, travel, and fantasy are some of the peculiar characteristics transcending into narratives. Burman has worked with multiple forms, including engraving, drawing, sculpture, and painting in a number of media.

Along with addressing the role of religion and culture in his life, oils combined with acrylics, one of his most acclaimed works is an album of sixteen limited edition lithographic illustrations for the French translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali.

Sakti has participated in several shows, some of the most recent including The Beholder’s Share by Jehangir Art Gallery and Art Musings in Mumbai in 2016; A Private Universe by Art Alive Gallery in New Delhi in 2015; Rituals and Reasons: Invoking the Sensual in Art, at Apparao Galleries in Chennai in 2014; The Wonder of it All, a retrospective exhibition by Pundole Art Gallery and Apparao Galleries in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in 2012, Archetype and Enraputured Gaze at Aicon Gallery in London and New York in 2009; Faces of Indian Art organised by Art Alive at the Visual Art Gallery, New Delhi; Understanding Oneness in Diversity at Kitab Mahal, Mumbai; An Evening in Paris …Rome…London at Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata; and Resonance organised by Art Musings at Museum Gallery, Mumbai, all in 2007. Burman was awarded the Medaille d’Argent au Salon de Montmorency and the Prix des Etrangers, École des Beaux-Arts, Paris in 1956.

Sakti Burman lives and works in Paris. The distinguished title of Knight of the Legion of Honour had been awarded to him in 2017 in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the blending of French, European, and Indian cultures in his work, as well as his efforts to foster lasting connections between France and India. Sakti Burman is also the uncle of the artist Jayasri Burman.
You can browse through our gallery of Serigraphs to see more of his artworks and paintings along with other famous serigraph artists.

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Dancers

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

35 (w) x 30 (h) in

$ 1,500

Legends of Hope

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

35 (w) x 30 (h) in

$ 2,625

Flute Player

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

30 (w) x 40 (h) in

$ 1,875

Taj Mahal

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

30 (w) x 40 (h) in

$ 1,125

Durga by Sakti Burman

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

30 (w) x 40 (h) in

$ 2,625

Homage to Kalighat

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

30 (w) x 40 (h) in

$ 2,625

Festival by Sakti Burman

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

36 (w) x 30 (h) in

$ 1,500

Happy As A Bird

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

22 (w) x 30 (h) in

$ 938

Legends of Love

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

22 (w) x 30 (h) in

$ 938

Flying Bird

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

22 (w) x 30 (h) in

$ 938

Dreamers

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

22 (w) x 30 (h) in

$ 938

Shiva and Parvati by Sakti Burman

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

22 (w) x 30 (h) in

$ 1,500

Krishna by Sakti Burman

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

22 (w) x 30 (h) in

$ 1,875

Ganesh Janani

Sakti Burman

Serigraph on Paper

22 (w) x 30 (h) in

$ 1,500

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Famous Paintings and Artwork Series of Sakti Burman

Sakti Burman is celebrated for his lyrical fusion of Indian and European traditions, dreamlike storytelling, and his distinctive marbling effect that gives his surfaces a fresco-like depth. A Paris-based modern master, artist Sakti Burman practice blends myth, memory, family, and fantasy into richly layered visual narratives. His most acclaimed paintings and bodies of work include:

1) Mythic Family Portraits

These are multi-figure dreamscapes inspired by the artist's own inner world - children, grandchildren, lovers, animals, and mythic beings coexisting in enchanted landscapes. Often autobiographical yet universal, these works are among the most emotionally resonant paintings by Sakti Burman, making them central to many Sakti Burman collections.

2) Fresco Marbling Series

This signature series showcases Burman's famed marbling technique, achieved by blending oil and acrylic to create softly cracked, fresco-like surfaces. Influenced by Renaissance murals and Indian temple walls, these works sit at the heart of his exploration, bridging European grandeur with Indian mural traditions and aligning naturally with contemporary mixed media art.

3) Mythology Reimagined

A recurring strand in Sakti Burman's painting, this exploration draws from Indian and Western mythology - Vishnu, Ganesha, Shiva, Kartikeya, alongside Biblical and Greek figures. These works reinterpret sacred narratives with tenderness and play, often appealing to collectors exploring ganesha paintings and broader indian mythology painting traditions.

4) Surreal Allegories

Lyrical, fable-like scenes populated with birds, animals, cityscapes, and puppet-theatre characters define this group. Rendered with a pointillist touch and muted, harmonious palettes, these paintings evoke Kalighat pats, Ajanta murals, and European passion plays - hallmarks of artist Sakti Burman's poetic imagination.

5) Sculpture and Prints

Beyond canvas, Sakti Burman's art practice extends into sculpture and printmaking. His three-dimensional works translate painted motifs into bronze and other mediums, while lithographs and limited editions make his works accessible to a wider collector base, alongside curated sculpture art.

Price of Sakti Burman Paintings

1. Serigraphs

Sakti Burman's serigraphs are priced at ~₹78,000–₹2,20,000 from smaller sizes like 22" x 30" to up to large size is like 30" x 40".

2. Small works on paper

These are priced at ~₹36,000–₹3.6 lakh depending on size and medium — e.g., a small pen-on-paper work sold for ₹36,000 (Saffronart/StoryLTD listing showing a winning bid), while a larger 19.5 × 25.5 in watercolour sold for ₹3.6 lakh at Saffronart's Spring Online Auction (13–14 March 2024).

3. Mid-sized oils

Priced at ~₹20–35 lakh+, e.g., Untitled (23 × 19 in, oil on canvas) sold for ₹31.09 lakh at AstaGuru's Dimensions Defined (21–22 Feb 2024).

4. Large Signature canvases

~₹40–60 lakh+ (and can go higher) like the, Untitled (51 × 77 in, oil & acrylic on canvas) work that sold for ₹48 lakh at Saffronart's Spring Online Auction (13–14 March 2024).

5. Blue-chip Durga/Mythic masterworks

~₹4–8 crore in recent sales. e.g., Durga sold for ₹7.2 crore at Saffronart's 25th Anniversary Sale | Live (2 April 2025), and another Durga (31 × 38 in, oil on canvas, circa 2004) sold for ₹4.15 crore at AstaGuru's ManiFest (28–30 Aug 2025) (noted as published in a major monograph, which typically supports higher pricing).

These ranges apply across galleries and platforms offering Sakti Burman paintings for sale, including premium paintings for sale online.

How to Choose the Right Sakti Burman Artwork

1. Theme and Message

Collectors drawn to magical realism and personal myth often gravitate toward family portraits and surreal allegories, while those interested in cultural synthesis may prefer mythological reinterpretations or European cityscape influences.

2. Personal Connection

Burman's art resonates deeply with collectors who seek a bridge between Indian and Western worlds. Works featuring children, familial bonds, and gentle fantasy are especially suited for private home collections.

3. Narrative and Symbolism

Look for recurring motifs like waves, marbled textures, peacocks, musical figures, and floating forms. Each Sakti Burman painting functions like a self-contained fable.

4. Budget and Collecting Stage

Entry-level collectors can begin with serigraphs or small watercolours, while seasoned buyers often focus on marbled oils and museum-scale ensemble works when planning to buy Sakti Burman paintings as long-term assets.

Authenticity & Certification Process

Every authentic Sakti Burman artwork offered on ArtFlute goes through a careful verification process so collectors know they're acquiring genuine pieces, not copies or reprints.

1) Hand-Signed Details

All serigraphs of Sakti Burman include his pencil signature along the lower margin — a hallmark many enthusiasts look for when collecting serigraphs.

2) Edition Markings

Authentic editions carry hand-written numbers such as "82/150." These markings confirm the legitimacy and scarcity of the work, a key factor when evaluating prints.

3) Certificate of Authenticity

Each serigraph comes with a COA listing the title, year, medium, edition size, and provenance, giving collectors complete clarity before they purchase a serigraph.

4) What to Avoid

Printed signatures, unclear paperwork, poor-quality impressions, or prices far below market norms are immediate red flags when browsing serigraphs.

FAQs About Sakti Burman Paintings

1. Are the Sakti Burman paintings listed here original?

If you're looking to buy an Sakti Burman original painting, drop a note on +91-8088-313131, our advisory line and we will reach out to you on the currently available Original works. The limited edition serigraphs listed on the website are available for a direct sale.

2. What style is Sakti Burman famous for?

He is known for magical realism, fresco-like marbling surfaces, pointillist detailing, and a poetic fusion of Indian and European visual traditions.

3. What themes appear in Sakti Burman's paintings?

Recurring themes include family, childhood, mythology, fables, spirituality, and dreamlike allegories populated by humans, animals, and divine figures.

4. What is the price range of Sakti Burman paintings?

Sakti Burman paintings typically range from ~₹3–5 lakh for works on paper to ~₹20–60 lakh for mid-to-large signature canvases, while exceptional museum-grade mythic masterworks (like Durga) can reach ~₹4–8 crore in recent auctions.

5. Where can I buy original Sakti Burman paintings online?

You can buy Sakti Burman paintings by enquiring on our advisory line (+91-8088-313131) and we will help you with authentic Sakti Burman's original works.

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