Before Laxman Aelay chose to become a professional artist, he was a signboard painter and then a much sought after and respected designer and illustrator of books. His work was highly thought of within Telegu literary circles, but soon the painter in him compelled Aelay to enroll in college for a degree in Fine Arts, even though he had already received a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Laxman Aelay was born in the Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh in 1964. He received his BA in Painting from the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University College of Fine Arts in Hyderabad, and took up full time freelance painting straight after that. Laxman's paintings are nostalgic, depicting the rural people he grew up amongst. His source of inspiration has been the live of these poverty stricken people from his village - Kadirenigudem. Recently, Aelay switched over from using white, black and shades of gray, which he preferred in his paintings, to using vivid colours to depict flowers, jewellery and traditional clothing. His earlier preference to paint on large sized canvases and papers has also been abandoned, and his latest works are much smaller and compact. Aelay has received international recognition as well as several awards and gold medals for his works. These include an award from the Hyderabad Art Society in 1995. This young and talented artist held his first solo show at the Indian Council of Cultural Relations Art Gallery in Hyderabad in1999. Laxman has participated in several important exhibitions of paintings including 'Contemporary Deccan - A New Generation of Artists,' held in Hyderabad in1999 and the 7th Group show at the Surya Art Gallery, Hyderabad in 2000. He has also represented the country in an international exposition organised by TAANA in Chicago, USA in 1995. Laxman Aelay is presently working as freelance artist, based in Hyderabad.


1964 : Born in Kadireni Gudem, Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
1996 : B.F.A., Painting, J.N.T.U., College of Fine Arts, Hyderabad.


ONE MAN SHOWS:-

1999 : Images of Kadirenigudem at I.C.C.R. Art Gallery, Hyderabad.

2004 : Drawing Show "CHARISMATIC CONTOURS" Gallery Threshold, New Delhi.

2005 : "Song of the Village" at Apparao Gallaries, Chennai.

2006 : “moods and colours” at fida art gallery,Singapore.

2008 : The River underneath at India fine art mumbai

AWARDS:-

1987 : "BRONZE" Medal in the Painting Competition conducted by Ameture Artist Association,
Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh.

1993 : "GOLD MEDAL" for Painting Competition conducted by Konaseema Chithrakala
Parishath, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh.

1995 : Award from Hyderabad Art Society Annual Painting Competition.

GROUP SHOWS:-

1998 : Street Show for Human Rights Commission.

1995 : "TANA" Art Chicago, U.S.A.

1999 : Contemporary Deccan : A New Generations of Artists at C.C.M.B., Hyderabad.

2000 : 7th Annual Grloup Show at Surya Art Gallery, Hyderabad.

2000 : Two Man Show at Jahangir Art Gallery, Mumbai......

2001 : Tradition to Modernity Fulda, Germany.

2001 : Regional Art Exhibition at Cochin conducted by Lalithakala Academy.

2001 : National Art Exhibition at Ahmedabad conducted by Lalithakala Academy.

2002 : International Group shows with Indian Danish Artists "CROSS CURRENTS" in Mumbai,
& New Delhi, Hyderabad & Pondichery.
2003

2003 : International Group Shows in Denmark with Indian & Danish Artists.







Rundetaarn, Copenhagen
Vejle Kunstforening
Musikhuset, Esbjerg
Pakhuset, Nykobing Sj
Teko Center, Herming
Lands by - Galleriet, Timring
Thorasmindu, Laurentsvej
Roskilde Kunstforening - Roskilde


2003 : Group Show of Hyderabad Artists at "India Art Gallery, Pune.

2003 : Group Show at Sarjan Art Gallery, Baroda.

2003 : Group Show at Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi

2003 : National Art Exhibition conducted by Lalithakala Academy at Cochin

2004 : Group Show Sponsored by Art Piligrim at "Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

2004 : 1st Anniversary Exhibition Gallery, Sara Arakkal, Bangalore

2004 : A Charity Show "Art for Vision" curated by Sushma K. Bahl at Ravindra Bhavan
Gallaries, New Delhi.

2004 : Harvest 2004 Art & Poetry exhibition conducted by Arushi Art Gallery at Visual Art
Gallery, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

2004 : "Hyderabad with Love" an exhibition of Five Artists from Hyderabad presented by "Indian
Fine Art" at Mumbai Art Gallery and L.V.Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad and Nehru
Centre, Mumbai.

2004: Two Man Show "MOODS" Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi.

2004 : Group Exhibition "BLACK & WHITE, WHITE & BLACK" show at Cymroza Art Gallery,
Mumbai.

2004 : A Charity Art Show for Passages Art & Soul Art Gallery, Mumbai

2004 : "Art for Concern" auction conducted by CHRISTIE'S, Mumbai.

2005 : STILL WATERS RUN DEEP, January, 2005 Hocienda, Mumbai.

2005 Graphic Port Polio of 20 Artists show organised by Gallery Space, Hyderabad.

2005 : 2005 Harvest Show at Kalaghoda,Mumbai.

2005 : "In Short" at Hocienda Gallery, Mumbai.

2005 : "Divine Inspiration" show at Hocienda Art Gallery, Mumbai.

2005 : In the creative express presented by "PRAKRIT ARTS" Hongkong Visual Arts Centre,
Hongkong.

2005 : "Art for Concern" Auction conducted by CHRISTIE'S, Mumbai.

2005 : Group Show at Gallery Space, Hyderabad.

2005 : "International Biennial of Contemporary Art" represented for India at Florence, Italy.

2005 : "Mapping the South at Lalithakala Academy, New Delhi organised by Vinnyasa Premier
Art Gallery, Chennai.

2006 : "Mapping the South" at Karnataka Chithrakala Parishath, Bangalore organised by
Vinnyasa Premier Art Gallery, Chennai.

2006 : "Mapping the South" at Regional Centre, Lalithakala Academy, Chennai organised by
Vinnyasa Premier Art Gallery, Chennai.

2006 : “India Ink” at stonescene Gallery, Newyork, Curated by Nemiraj Shetty.

2006 : “Reflections” Group show at Art Elements Gallery, New Delhi. Curated by Nemiraj Shetty.

2006 : “Deccan Command” at Sridharani Art Gallery, new Delhi Organised by “Shrishti Art Gallery”.

2006 : National Art Exhibition conducted by Lalithakala Academy at Bhopal.

2006 : “Tryst With Telangana” Group show at “ Sarjan Art Gallery, Baroda”.

2007 : “Deccani Parlance” an exhibition of drawings by Andhra Artists at Kaleidoscope,Baroda.

2007 : “Paper-Love” India Fine Arts,Mumbai.

2007 : “Beyond Boundaries” at Mahua Art Gallery,Bangalore.

2007 : “Kaleidoscope” organized by Ayya Art Galleries at Kitab Mahal,Mumbai.

2007 : “A P Art of the Habitat” at Leela Lounge,New York.

2007 : “Art for Prabhat” a charity show,New Delhi.

2007 : “Art for freedom” organisd by Point of View Art Gallery at the Sheraton,Washington D C.

2007 : Group show organised by Nouveau at ITC Mariet,New Delhi.

2007 : Group show organised by Nouveau at Hyatt Regency,Kolkatta

2007 : Group show organized by Nouveau at Leela Kempensky,Bangalore.

2007 : Group show “High on Hyderabad” organizes by Jamaat art gallery,Mumbai.

2007 : Annual show at the “Sara Arrakkal art gallery”,Bangalore.

2007 : Group show “Emerging India” organized by Art Alive gallery & S.A.Fine Arts,
London at The Henry Moore Gallery,Royal College of Art,London.

2007 : Inaugural group show “sounds of the brush”,at Gallery Hues,Bangalore.

2007: Inaugural group show “Figurative aesthetics” at Hyderabad Art Gallery,Hyderabad.

2007: Group show “Convergence” organized by the art piligrim Gurgaon ,Gurgaon.

2007: Group show “By the Waves” in MEC Gallery,New Delhi.

2007: Group show organized by Art Elements Gallery In association with BNP PARIBAS.

2007: Group show organized by The Galleria,New Delhi.

2008: Group show of Contemporary Art “Symphony of Colours” organized by Art Panache and ABN AMRO,Gurgaon.

2008: Group show “Colours of Hyderabad” at Canvas Art Gallery,Kolkota.

2008: Collection of 37 Indian Artists “Awakening the Spirit” at The Art, New Delhi.

2008 : Contemperary artist group show at Mystic strokes Pune

2008 : "Deccan Hues" at Suruchi Art Gallery, Noida.

2008 : "Rendezvous Hyderabad" at Birla Academy of Arts & Culture, Kolkatta.

2008 : "4 Ging Ahead" at Open Palm Court Gallery India Habitate Centre, Organized by Gallery Joie, New Delhi.

2008 : "Odyssey" a Group show at Epicentre, Gurgaon, India Habitat Centre, Open Palm Court, Organized by Art Panache, Gurgaon.

2008 : Colurs of Hyderabad - II at Samanva Art Gallery, Jaipur.

2008 : Across the Threshold at Mahua the Art Gallery, Bangalore.

2008 : "Windows" A Glimse into Contemporary Indian art at Prakrit arts and Ayya art Galleries, Chennai.

2008 : "Souls in surfaces" Epicentre organized by Dhoomimal's city gallery, New Delhi.

2008: Pro\Con A study in Contrast between process Art, and Conceptval organized by Ochre india USA, Hyderabad.

2008: PRAVAH' presents Art PILIGRIM, Curated by ARCHANA B. SAPRA, New Delhi.

2009 : "Entity" Group show at The Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat centre organized by M.E.C Art Gallery, New Delhi.

2009 : Peaple and Places at Art Piligrim, Gurgaon Invited by Suneet Chopra.

2009 : State level art exbition at Telugu University, Special Invitation.

2009 : On High Ground of Indian Art, Eastern and Southern Dimentions at Ganges Eternal Art,
Bangalore and Samokal Art gallery, Kolkatta. Invited by Somadas.

2009 : "Also in Hyderabad" at Studio Napean, Mumbai

2009 : Expressions... of our times group show at Visual art gallery, India Habitat Centre, organized by Art Eterne, New Delhi.

2009 : "Rendezvous Hyderabad" group show presents Birla Academy of Arts & Culture, Kolkatta.

2009 : Peaple and Places' group show presents Art Piligrim, curated by Suneet Chopra Gurgaon.

2009 : "Deccan Hues" organised by Suruchi Art Gallery, Noida.

2009 : Expressions... of our times group show organized by Gallery Art Eterne at Visual art gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

2009 : ROOP BHEDA' Sixth Anniversary show presents ALANKRITHA Art Gallery, Hyderabad,

2009 : "PERFECT SYNERGY" group show organized by Ganesha Art Gallery, Kolkatta.

2009: Living Expanse' group show presents Galeria DE Art curated by Sushma Bahl & Archana b,Sapra, New Delhi.

2009: FUSION presents Pink Ginger Art gallery 'G', Bangalore.

2009: SACRED & SECULAR organised by India fine art mumbai.

2009: GALERIA DE ART Presents LIVING ART EXPANSE by Nakul Sen & Christina Chingakham Group show, OPALACIO, New Delhi.

2009: For “PERFECT SYNERGY” Group Show Organized by the Oberio Grand Hotel,
& Genesis Art Gallery, Kolkata.

2009: G – Gallery Presents “BLAST INDIA” First Contemporary Indian Art Exhibition Group Show, HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A.

2009: Today & tomorrow Masters, Art for Concern, Shrishti Art Gallery, Hyderabad.


ART CAMPS:-

2002 : Hyderabad Artist Camp organised by Tourism Department, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

2003 : Artist Camp organised by AIFCS, New Delhi.

2001 : Artists Camp organised by Devanar Foundation, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

2004 : Artist Camp organised by India Fine Art at CCMB, Hyderabad.

2004 : Artist Camp organised by State Bank of India, Hyderabad.

2005 : Artist Camp organised by "Kalakriti Art Gallery", Hyderabad.

2006 : Artist Camp organized by “India Fine Art” at Intercontinental hotel Mumbai.

2007 : Artist Camp organized by “Rad” at Bhavani Island Resorts, Vijayawada.

2007 : International Art Expo organized by “Ochre India” at Taramati Baradari, Hyderabad.

2007 : Artist Camp organised by gallery verna in star cruise.

2007 : Artist Camp organized by Welham girls school at Dehradoon.

2007 : Artist Camp organised by Samanvai art gallery at in goa.

2007 : Artist Camp organized by “Renisa’s” at Vietnam and Cambodia.

2007 : Artist Camp at Bangkok.

2008 : Artist Camp at Japan.

2008 : Artist Camp at Egypt

2008 : Artist camp at Saraswathi music academy, New Delhi.

2008 : Artist camp at Switzeland organized by Puja entertainment.

2008 : Artist camp at Italy (Sunrise in Italy) organized by Pink Ginger arts.

2009 : All India artist camp at Bhimtal, Uttarakhand organized by Rai foundation.


COLLECTIONS:-

Padmashri Jagdish Mittal, Anju Poddar, Coromandal Fertilisers, Lanco Industries. Byrraju Foun-
dation, and in many private collections in India and abroad.


IN FILMS:

Worked as a Publicity Designer for Ace Director Ramgopal Varma's Films like "Rangeela",
"Satya" etc.

As an Art Director for Films "Thodu", "Nirantharam", "Patha Nagaram Lo Pasivadu", Inscrutable
Americans (English).


CONTRIBUTION TO LITERATURE:-

Cover Disigns & Illustrations for hundreds of Poetry, Fiction & Non Fiction Books.