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 was honoured with Padma Shri award by Indian government for his work towards sculpture.

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.