T. Vaikuntam

Vaikuntam was born in Boorugupally, in Andhra Pradesh. He studied at the College of Fine Arts, Hyderabad and at the M. S. University in Baroda where he worked under the guidance of artist K.G. Subramanyan. T. Vaikuntam draws a lot of inspiration for his work from the rural areas of the state. The men and women of his village have often been depicted in his work. Women, in particular, are frequent his chosen subject. The love for this subject can be traced back to his childhood when he used to be fascinated by the impersonations of female characters by the male artists of the theatre groups that traveled to, and performed in his village.

Vaikuntam portrays women as sensual and voluptuous. The colours he uses in his paintings give them a vibrant and decorative look. The male form appears remarkably calm with a sense of humor. His work has a distinct rural flavour as he makes use of only primary colors.

In a career that has spanned nearly 30 years, he has won several awards. His paintings are a part of several renowned collections and his works have been exhibited widely. Over the past five years, exhibitions of his artwork have been held in New York, London and Birmingham. He lives and works in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.