Debendra Thiyam received his Diploma from the Imphal Art College in 1979 which was followed by a three year study at the College of Visual Arts, Kolkata under the guidance of Shuvaprasanna in 1981. He further went on to receive his post diploma in painting from Kala Bhavan, Viswa Bharati Santiniketan under the guidance of K.G.Subramanyan in 1988. He received the junior fellowship by the Human Resource Development Department of Culture, from the Government of India for 1996-1998 and the senior fellowship for 2008-2010.

An abstract artist, Debendra Thiyam's work reminds one of lush landscapes and forms floating and colliding into eachother. His work can be found in many private and public collections in India and around the world like the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi, the State Lalit Kala Akademi in Imphal, ITC Ltd, Fulda Germany amongst others.