Art Gallery

S.V.Rama Rao

Art is a medium that makes a human react instantly. They give passionate experiences, makes one think deep, and shower many feeling.

S.V.Rama Rao is an exceptionally talented painter who had graduated and researched into this division of art.

He was born in 1936 in a handicraft artisan’s family. The first lesson in design was learnt from his father Gangaiah, who used to carve masterpieces from wood.

Unlike many other painters and artists, Rama Rao was a double graduate. He graduated in Economics and Commerce. In 1995 he achieved four diplomas in advanced art. To refine his artistic skills, Rao met renowned artist and art director Madhava Peddi Gokhale who in turn advised him to join Government School of Arts and Crafts. At this school, he met the then Principal Devi Prasad Roy Choudhury.

The skill of Rama Rao fascinated Choudhury in the formal entrance test. Rao was given direct entry into the third year of the course. There Rao completed six year course within three years and received excellence diploma in 1960. Rao also learnt traditional systems of art from Kala Kshetra professor K. Srinivasulu.

During his training at the School, he had taken advice from professors like K. C. S. Phanikkar, S. Dhanpal and H. V. Ram Gopal. Rao was fortunate to get associated with A. P. Santhanraj, L. Muni Swamy, senior artists in Madras. Rao watched these personalities live and learnt many traditional and trade secrets of the art.

On completion of the diploma course with distinction, Government of India conferred on him a three-year scholarship for research.

It is to be noted that he was the only person from Common Wealth Nations on whom the prestigious “Common Wealth Fellowship” was awarded by the British Government in 1962. He went to England and joined August Slade (University of London) with the support of the fellowship. Maestro's in art Sir William Cold Streem, William Rogers trained Rao and polished his unparallel skill even further.

He was awarded ‘Best Lithographer of the Year’ award in 1966, after he learnt Lithography from Stanley Jones. In 1965, British Government appreciated the excellence of Rao and felicitated him with Lord Craft award. Rao was again the only Indian who became a professor to teach art in the London County Council from 1965 to 1969.

The pride of Andhra spread its fragrance of artistic excellence in the ‘International line of modern art’ organised in London by the New Vision Centre Gallery. Rao’s works were lined up along with those of Picasso, Brauk, Meero, Dolly, Max Ernest, and Jakson Pollock. Even here he was the only Asian who took part in the exhibition. Since then his paintings were often presented at galleries in London. Lyster and Band Street Galleries were marked centres for Rao’s art exhibitions.

Rama Rao did not stop with this. He migrated to United States of America in 1969 and there he associated with three universities and taught the talent to the young.

Mrs. Suguna Rama Rao is a doctor in the outskirts of Chicago. Their daughter 20 year-old Padma is a proficient dancer and disciple of Bharata Natyam professional Hema Rajagopalan.

The family of Rama Rao is now settled in America.

Contact Address:

Professor S. V. Rama Rao,
9026, Sierra Line,
P.O.Box: 66,
Palos Hills, IL – 60465
U.S.A.
Phones:
Studio: (708) 599-6410
Residence: (708) 599-6411