Art Gallery

Pakala Tirumala Reddy (P.T. Reddy)

In the art circles, many may not immediately know when he is referred to as Pakala Tirumala Reddy. However, once you refer to his short name, P. T. Reddy, he is spotlighted representing the position he had attained in the hearts of art lovers.

P. T. Reddy dedicated his life to painting during which time he had produced over 3,000 paintings.

He was born in an agricultural family to Ram Reddy and Ramanamma as fifth child in January, 1915 in Annavaram village, Karimnagar district, Andhra Pradesh. He went to school at Darussalam. During 1935-42, he achieved a distinctive and ranking Diploma in Painting from Sir J. J. School of Arts, Mumbai. He was awarded scholarship for his merit in the art. Art critics describe Reddy as the one who took over famous painters Amrutha Sher-Gil and Ravindranath Tagore during 1941.

On May 9th, 1947, he married Yashoda Reddy, a matriculate girl. With the co-operation and affection of P. T. Reddy, she went ahead with her studies and completed M. A. and Ph.D. Yashoda authored over 22 compilations and novels.

One would be astonished to note that Yashoda, although PT Reddy was with her, physically from October 21, 1996 carefully protected his paintings and is exhibiting them at Narayanaguda, Hyderabad.

The couple have a daughter, Lakshmi Reddy who is another scholar and painter. Lakshmi Reddy, after taking masters degree in fine arts, is now working with National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).

Exhibitions of PT Reddy’s paintings: The painting exhibitions of PT Reddy in addition to many a display in the country spread to Australia, United Kingdom, West Germany and Japan.

Awards and Medals: 1939 – Hyderabad Art Society Gold Medal, 1957 – Amritsir Art Society Gold Medal, 1939 – Silver Medals from Simla Art Society and Mumbai Art Society.

PT Reddy was also member, honorary secretary to the Andhra Pradesh Lalitha Kala Academy, Hyderabad Art Society, AP Council of Arts and held various position in AIFACS and Sculptors Forum of India. Reddy was given fellowship in the state Lalitha Kala Academy, honorary membership in Central government Cultural Department and fellowship in Kentucky State University, U.S.A.

Among the scripts of P T Reddy, the famous books were, Portfolio of Drawings, Paintings and Sculptures in 1941, Contemporary Painters in 1941, 40 Drawings in 1941 and Kiss Volume I in 1968.