Thota Vaikuntam Biography 
Thota Vaikuntam is an Indian artist and painter from the state of Telangana. He is best known for painting simple lifestyle of villagers and rural life, and he experiments with stark charcoal on paper, transparent washes and pencil drawings. Most of his paintings are colourful and expressive, dedicated to Telangana women and his most common paintings include - elaborately dressed Telangana region men and seductive women. He also paints household chores, temple rituals, cultural life of Telugu speaking people, paddy fields, men at work etc.
Thota Vaikuntam was born in Burugupalli, Karimnagar district in undivided Andhra Pradesh. His father was into grocery business running a store. Since childhood he was fascinated with the plays and performing arts at his village, and he was deeply influenced by the impersonations of women characters by the male artists. Since then he has loved to portray women on his colourful canvas. Colourful saris, vermilion bindis and sedative nature are some of the features he portrayed most. He liked using rich primary colours.
After completing his graduation from Hyderabad he received a scholarship to study at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Architecture, Painting and Printmaking are some of the topics which he studied during academic years. K. G. Subramanyan served as his mentor and guru at Baroda, while he was studying on a scholarship. Since then he has done numerous paintings and conducted several exhibitions as well.
Initially he was a shy and reticent artist. Flair and spontaneity are the characteristics of his paintings which celebrates the true spirit of women. It took 20 years of quest to unveil the exhibition, “Memories of Telengana'' in 2001. His works reflect the purest form of the women of Telengana region. Vaikuntam's “Telegana women'' has become his signature style.
Published: January 22, 2019
Updated: January 22, 2019
