“In 2015, I came to Hyderabad to study Engineering. It felt like the sensible decision. But even inside classrooms, the artist in me refused to stay quiet. Between lectures and assignments, I was sketching, painting, and experimenting—always finding my way back to art. By my second year, it was clear this wasn’t a hobby. It was who I was.
Choosing Fine Arts meant stepping away from a familiar path. It wasn’t easy, and there were doubts—at home and within myself. But I trusted that inner fire. My family took time to understand the decision, and once they saw my commitment, they stood by me. That support changed everything.
I enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts programme at JNAFU, Masab Tank. Surrounded by mentors and fellow artists, I refined my skills, experimented freely, and began to find my own visual language. Exhibiting my work at the Nehru Art Gallery during my college years, along with other exhibitions, remains a defining milestone—quiet reassurance that I was on the right path.
My journey began much earlier. I grew up in Narlapur, a small village in Tadvai Mandal of Mulugu district. Exposure was limited, but curiosity wasn’t. I closely observed people, spaces, colours, and everyday life. Those early impressions continue to shape my work.
After graduation, I worked on commissioned artworks, design projects, and large-scale paintings, learning to think bigger about space and impact.
Today, being part of the Hyderabad Beautification Project feels surreal. Working with GHMC and the Telangana government, my team and I have created murals across the city—turning public spaces into visual stories. From AI and technology at the Hitec City Flyover, to honouring the Indian Army at the Kothaguda Underpass, to themes of travel and culture at the Kothaguda Flyover, and the vibrant bazaars of Hyderabad at the Ayyappa Society 100 Feet Road Underpass—each wall tells a story.
As this new year begins, my vision is clear. I want art to exist beyond galleries and walls—where people live, move, and pause. I want to travel, learn from cultures, and create work that inspires conversation and leaves something meaningful.”
- Prem Esram, Visual Artist & Designer