Laxman Aelay is a significant Indian painter who is well-known for portraying the people of his community. His monochrome studies of the women of Telangana & other rural village folk, set against a single coloured background, have become icons, which are much loved &  sought after by connoisseurs.  He completed his BFA & MFA from the JNTU College of Fine Art in Hyderabad.Besides paintings, he is an illustrator & designer-who created the new Telangana Logo for the new Telangana State.

His work is deeply nostalgic, depicting the rural people he grew up amongst as a child. His source of inspiration has been the lives of these poverty stricken people from his village-Kadirenigudem. Wearing traditional Telangana jewellery as embellishments, these women & people from the village, draw the viewer’s attention to their charm. Influenced by the folk pictorial art of Telangana, they are often seen in groups, gossiping with one another or just reflecting about life & its struuggles.

Awards

1987: BRONZE MEDAL in the Painting Competition conducted by Amateur Artist Association, Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh

1993: GOLD MEDAL in the Painting Competition conducted by Konaseema Chithrakala Parishath, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh

1995: Appreciation Award from Hyderabad Art Society at Annual Painting Competition