Didi painting sold for $ 3000 at New York auction

Purple flowers on a bed of green leaves in acrylic and oil on canvas by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been auctioned in New York for $ 3000 , her first painting to be sold abroad.

Five bids were made before the painting titled Flower Power was sold to Sundaram Tagore Gallery, said a spokesperson of the US-based NGO, Children's Hope India, which auctioned the painting to raise funds for the welfare of underprivileged children in India. The auction was held at a gala event in New York City to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the NGO. Of about 200 paintings made so far by the Trinamool Congress supremo, this was was the first time her work went abroad. She has held three exhibitions so far.

Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien, present at the auction, said the NGO had requested the chief minister to contribute a painting. "Since it was for a good cause, she readily agreed. She painted it two months ago at her office," he said. Another painting was sent to Israeli Ambassador Alon Ushpiz in Delhi last week. "He paid a courtesy visit to the CM and wanted to buy one of her paintings. Banerjee said she would gift it," said Derek. He said Banerjee's fourth exhibition with 50 paintings would be held in Kolkata early next year.

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