Thota Vaikuntam

Thota Vaikuntam is known for his contemporary figurative paintings of residents of the Telangana region of India. His stylized portraits—which focus on their subjects’ garments and accessories—have earned him many awards, including the Bharat Bhavan Biennale Award in 1999 and the National Award for Painting from the Government of India in 1993. Vaikuntum trained at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda under Indian modern art pioneer K.G. Subramanyan In Vaikuntum’s works, bright primary colors invigorate fluid forms, which come together to form distorted perspectives of his subjects. Vaikuntam often sets his figures against monochrome backgrounds to highlight their ornate clothing and adornments.