Thota Vaikuntam was born in Andra Pradesh in 1942. He completed a Diploma in Painting at the College of Fine Arts and Architecture from Hyderabad, in 1970, followed by another Painting and Printmaking degree from the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, in 1972. It was only, however, later that he developed his own distinct style under the guidance of his tutor K G Subramanyan whom he fondly called Mani da.

Vaikuntam’s art catches your eye with its bright colours. His strokes are strong, controlled and angular that gives his work a contemporary feel even though the subjects are very traditional. He only likes using primary colours, which he feels gives depth and are essentially Indian. Vaikuntam’s art has a sense of strength, a power that flows from the charcoal or paint he uses.