Thota Vaikuntam

Born in 1942 in Boorugupali, Andhra Pradesh, Thota Vaikuntam completed a Diploma in Painting at the College of Fine Arts and Architecture, Hyderabad, in 1970, and then another in Painting and Printmaking from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, in 1972. He held his first solo exhibition at the Kala Bhavan in Hyderabad in 1973, and since then has had regular shows at various galleries in Hyderabad, Bangalore, New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. His most recent shows have been ‘Yes, I am He’ organized by India Fine Art at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, in 2007; ‘Telangana: Inheritance of a Dream Lost’ at Art Alive, New Delhi, also in 2007; and ‘Mukham’ at Sanskriti Art Gallery, Kolkata, in 2006. He has participated in many group shows that have included 'Indian Harvest' presented by Crimson – the Art Resouce, Bangalore, at SG Private Bank, Singapore, in 2009; 'The Root of Everything' at Gallery Mementos, Bangalore, in 2009; 'Post Independence Masters' at Aicon Gallery, New York, in 2008; ‘6 Artists Show’ at 1x1 Gallery, Dubai, in 2006; ‘Tradition and Change’ at Arts India, New York, in 2002; and ‘Ignition’ at Crimson Art Gallery, Mumbai, in 2000. Among his several honours are the National Award for Painting, which Vaikuntam received in 1993, and the Biennale Award from Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, which he received in 1988-89. Honours and Awards 1993 National Award For Painting. 1988-89 Biennale Award, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal. 1988-89 National Award for Art Direction of Film ‘Daasi’. 1985 Award from Hyderabad Art Society, Andhra Pradesh Lalit Kala Academy. 1982-83 Award from Hyderabad Art Society, Andhra Pradesh Lalit Kala Academy. 1979 ‘Mahakoshal Kala Samithi’, Madhya Pradesh. 1979 Award from Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata. 1979 Award from Chitra Kala Parishad, Bangalore. 1975-77 Second Award from Hyderabad Art Society, Andhra Pradesh Lalit Kala Academy. The artist lives and works in Hyderabad.