About Aekka Yadagiri

Aekka Yadagiri Rao is India’s renowned sculptior, a skillful carver. He is one of the most prominent among the first generation artists of South India who who opted for sculpting and received national fame by winning awards and appreciations by the leading critics. He is the only sculptor of Telangana State who did several State – Sponsored commotions of great Socio-Political importance, carved huge stone blocks and assembled even larger metal objects.

He began his sculptural career in and around 1960. Carving with great vitality and vigor Yadagiri Rao took up sculpting in a transitional period – the post – colonial era of modern Indian Art. It was the time most Indian artists were looking for new languages breaking from the traditional and from the degenerated academicism. He enriched the time along with other prominent sculptors of the country to expand the continuous and parallel traditions of modern cultural trends. Yadagiri Rao who landed up in a different direction choosing Henri Moore and Picasso as an assembler of found metal objects. Hence, he contributes a vital share to the Modern India Sculpture.

Yadagiri Rao, retired as Professor, Department of Sculptor, Collage of fine arts, Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University (JNTU), Hyderabad.

Yadagiri Rao’s major influence in his life and art is ancient Indian Philosphy, the Advaita, which keeps him high as sculptor and human being.

FELLOWSHIP

• 2005- ‘Senior Fellowship by Govt. of India. Dept. of Culture








HONORS RECIEVED

• 2018 - LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from The Art Bourse, Rajasthan
• 2018 - D.Litt, from Gitam University, Hyderabad, India
• 2017 - "PADMASRI Award" from President of India
• 2109- ‘Pratibha Rajiv Puraskar’ by Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
• 2009 – ‘D-Lit’ by Telugu University, Hyderabad.
• 2001 – ‘Hamsa Award’ by Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
• 2002 – As ‘Eminent Sculptor’ at Detroit, USA.
• 2003- As ‘Veteran Artist’ by AIFACS, New Delhi
• 2004 – “Pratibha Puraskaram’ by Telugu University, Hyderabad
• 1984 – “Kala Saraswathi’ – Artist’s Conference, Hyderabad
• 1981 – ‘Eminent Artist’ by Silver Jubilee Celebrations, Formation of Andhra Pradesh
• 1975 – ‘Eminent Sculptor’ by First World Telugu Conference, Hyderabad
  and other Awards Since 1969




AWARDS RECIEVED

• 1975 – Gold Medal by Hyderabad Art Society, A.P.
• 1974 – Gold Medal by A.P. Lalitha Kala Academi.
  Also won several other awards, honors at State & National Level Since 1969




NOMINATED

• 2010 – Member Andhrapradesh Cultural Council by Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
• 2002 – 2005 – Member South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur by Govt. of India
• 1980-1989 – Member National Academy of Art, New Delhi by Govt. of India
• 1975-1981 – Member A.P. Lalitha Kala Academy by Government of Andhra Pradesh




WORKS COMISSIONED

• 2003 – Edati Sathyanarayana, Bronze, Nizamabad
• 2002 – Dr. Deenadayal Upadhyaya, Bronze, Nizamabad
• 1999 – Durgabai Deshmukh, Bronze, NFC, Visakhapatnam
• 1996-Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Bronze, NFC, Hyderabad
• 1991- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Bronze, Metpally, Kareemnagar
• 1986 – Suravaram Pratap Reddy, Bronze, Hyderabad
• 1984 – Sentinels, Granite, National Police Academy.
• 1975 – Damodaram, Sanjeevayya Memorial, Granite, Gun Park, Opp., Assembly, Hyderabad
• 1969- Mahatma Gandhi, Bronze, New Delhi
• 1967- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, New Delhi




EXIBITIONS / PARTICIPATIONS

• 2010 – International Art Exhibition, Denmark
• 2006 – International Art Exhibition, Singapore
• 2004 – National Sculptor’s Camp, Chandigarh, Punjab
• 2003 – Majdenek, Dublin, Poland
• 2002 - National Sculptor’s Camp, Hyderabad
• 2002 – Habirat Foundation, New Delhi.
• 2001- Contemporary,  Indian Art, Fulda, Germany
• 1997- Indo – Pak Jubilee Cultural Samaroh, Hyderabad
• 1996 – World Telugu Federation, Hyderabad
• 1986- SAARC International Exhibition of Arts, Bangalore
• 1975 – III International Triennial, New Delhi
• 1974 – National Sculptors Camp, Bangalore –
  And other National, State Art Exhibitions Since 1965




ACQUISITIONS

• Indian Embassy, Moscow
• Private: Finland, Poland, London, Baharain & USA
• National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
• National Art Academy, New Delhi
• Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad
• Contemporary Art State Museum, Hyderabad
• Kala Kendra, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarath.
• Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
• Lalitha Kala Academy, Chenai
• Chitra Kala Parishad, Bangalore
  and Private Collections in India, Abroad Since 1970