Thota Vaikuntam, popularly known as T. Vaikuntam, was born in Burugupalli, Andhra Pradesh in 1942. In 1970, he was awarded a diploma in painting by the College of Fine Arts and Architecture, Hyderabad. Two years later, he earned another diploma in painting and printmaking from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda.

He has held many solo exhibitions since 1973, including Exhibition of Ink and Wash Drawings, Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad (1978); ‘My Telangana Images’, Mumbai (1998); ‘Retrospective Show’, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi, London (2005); ‘Yes, I am He’, India Fine Art, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai (2007). He has also been part of numerous group exhibitions in India and abroad.

Vaikuntam has always depicted the lives of the people of his birthplace, particularly the womenfolk whom he considers studious and energetic. The acclaimed artist has won many awards, including the National Award for art direction in the movie Daasi in the late 1980s and the National Award for painting in 1993.

Vaikuntam lives and works in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.