Yasala Balaiah

Place: Ibrahimpur

Born: 1939

Death: 2020

Biography:

Yasala Balaiah was an established senior artist from Ibrahimpur, India. He was born in 1939 and died in 2020. He was known for his versatile Batik painting. Balaiah started his career as an art teacher in 1962, after pursuing a master’s degree and BEd in Drawing and Painting. He became popular for using the batik medium to depict the state’s Telangana village life. His depiction of rural Telangana through batik art is unmatched. You can’t just see Yasala Balaiah’s work and move away; his vibrant stories of Telangana village life are captivating. Batik is a style of art that uses dye-resistant wax to create elaborate patterns and designs. Though the technique is Indonesian, Balaiah became known for using the medium to depict the state’s culture and traditions. His batik work showing three village women carrying flowers on their head during the festival of Bathukamma is a testament to his unique style.