‘Threads of Tradition’: A solo exhibition by Thota Vaikuntam

Black Cube Gallery will present Threads of Tradition, a solo exhibition of new works by celebrated modern artist Thota Vaikuntam. Opening on November 6 and running until November 30, the show is curated by Sanya Malik and explores the convergence of painting and embroidery.

Renowned for his vivid depictions of rural Telangana, Vaikuntam now extends his artistic language into the medium of hand embroidery. In this new body of work, his familiar figures — draped in luminous saris, adorned with jewellery, and imbued with quiet dignity — are reimagined through silk zardozi and gemstones on velvet.

The works have been created in collaboration with the Shams family of Agra, sixteenth-generation master artisans who have practised the regal art of zardozi for over three centuries. Through this partnership, Vaikuntam’s paintings gain a tactile, sculptural dimension, merging colour, texture, and craft in a harmonious visual dialogue.

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Speaking about the exhibition, curator Sanya Malik said, “Threads of Tradition is not only an extension of Vaikuntam’s practice but a revival of traditional craftsmanship. It celebrates how fine art and heritage craft can meet in contemporary expression.”

Born in 1942, Vaikuntam trained under KG Subramanyan at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. A recipient of the National Award for Painting (1993) and the Bharat Bhavan Biennale Award (1999), he continues to draw inspiration from the people and culture of Telangana.

When: November 6–30; 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Where: Black Cube Gallery, G12A Hauz Khas, New Delhi