Our Founder – Keshava Chitra Alayam

About the Founder: Shri P.G. Keshavulu

The Brush That Heals,
The Heart That Serves

Born from Tradition, Raised by Art

In the heritage-soaked town of Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, a boy was born into a lineage of artisans—destined not just to paint, but to preserve. That boy, Shri P.G. Keshavulu, would grow to become one of India’s foremost cultural visionaries, fusing devotion and discipline through the sacred language of Gold Leaf and Tanjore art.

Under the nurturing guidance of his father, Late Pannuru Guruswamy, and mentorship of his brother, the Late Padma Shri Punnuru Sripathi, Keshavulu’s journey from student to master was steeped in reverence and rigor. With a Fine Arts Diploma from Chennai and a Master’s degree in hand, he stepped forward—not just as an artist, but as a torchbearer of India’s visual heritage.

Where Brushes Become Beacons: The Birth of Kalashree Artemple

In the year 2000, Keshavulu planted the seeds of what would become a spiritual sanctuary for art—Kalashree Artemple, nestled in Hyderabad. This was no ordinary academy. Here, students were not just taught to paint; they were taught to listen—to the soul of tradition whispering through brushstrokes, textures, and gold.

Over 2,000 students have passed through Kalashree’s doors, carrying with them not just technique, but a lineage of living wisdom. From working women to aspiring youth, his academy became a refuge where art was both teacher and therapy.

Where Color Meets Consciousness: The Invention of Turmeric Mudhra Art

Inspired by Agama Shastra and Samudrika Lakshana, Keshavulu envisioned a new form—Turmeric Symbolic Mudhra Painting—where sacred gestures and natural pigments created spiritual resonance on canvas. These weren’t just artworks; they were prayers in pigment.

From Temple Halls to World Stages

His mastery found echoes far beyond Indian borders. In 2012, the Government of India honored him with the National Award for Gold Leaf Painting. More accolades followed—the Kalasri Award, the Bharat Jyoti Award, the Kala Shri from Surajkund Mela, and even an honorary Doctor of Indigenous Arts.

“At the IHF Fair in Osaka, Japan, he stood as India’s artistic envoy—demonstrating not just technique, but tradition woven with soul. Wherever he went, Keshavulu brought not only brush and palette, but purpose.”

A Legacy That Blooms in Others

Today, Shri P.G. Keshavulu continues to guide, mentor, and create—not just paintings, but pathways for others. His life’s work doesn’t hang in silence. It sings through students, glows through gold leaf, and blossoms in every soul touched by his brush.

Through Kalashree Artemple and the Kalashree Keshava Trust, he has transformed his gifts into a movement—where art is not an object, but a force of light, learning, and love.