13 November, 2026
03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aditya Birla Auditorium | On-site
A collector can own a painting and still not own the right to reproduce it. Under Indian law, buying an artwork transfers the physical object, while copyright stays with the artist or their heirs unless assigned in writing. The artist also retains moral rights even after the sale.
In this panel, experts in law and the auction market come together to explore what collectors can resell, reproduce and exhibit, how long copyright lasts, and how heritage rules affect antiquities and export. The conversation also turns to forms where ownership is least settled: performance art that leaves no object to hold, digital works and NFTs, AI-generated art that unsettles authorship itself, and murals and sculptures in public spaces that belong to everyone and no one at once.
It asks: what does a collector truly hold once the sale is complete, and what does the artist continue to hold?
Punya heads Client Relations and is an Auctioneer at Saffronart, bringing over 25 years of industry experience. A founding team member since 2000, she has helped shape the company's trajectory by directing business development, marketing, and global operations. Punya specializes in appraising, valuing, and advising on modern and contemporary Indian art for collectors. In 2012, she introduced the concept of Absolute Auctions on the platform, designed to make Indian art more accessible to young collectors. An active auctioneer since 2013, she oversees sales on Saffronart and StoryLTD, including the two flagship sales in Spring and Autumn. Her first solo auction in 2019 was a white glove sale, and she has conducted live charity auctions with organizations such as YPO and the Government of India. Punya holds an MSc in Applied Operations Research and a BSc in Mathematics from Delhi University, and is currently pursuing a leadership programme at INSEAD.
