Akhilesh Verma is a renowned Indian artist celebrated for his vibrant and visually captivating artwork of linear abstractions inspired by tribal art traditions. Born in 1956 in Indore, into a family deeply rooted in Madhya Pradesh's art traditions. Despite initial resistance, he pursued a Diploma in Fine Arts, embodying the essence of artists from provincial towns in India. Influenced by tribal and folk traditions, he later transitioned to Textile Designing and moved to Bhopal.  His artistic journey in Indore holds significance, providing an indication into the rich tribal art traditions that influence both his and Swaminathan's work. The linear abstractions in Akhilesh's art reflect these traditional art forms, resonating with energy and patterns resembling neural pathways or electric flashes. His paintings explore the association of disparate aspects—tradition and present, absence and presence, emptiness and completeness. A collection of beginnings, defy traditional notions of completion and the use of lines in his work imparts a unique non-linearity, with colors resonating with emotions and freshness.   Akhilesh's manipulation of color, tone, and rhythmic textural arrangements infuses his paintings with a quiet sensuousness. His work is proudly held in admired collections such as the National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi, Lalit Kala Akademi, Delhi, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, and various public and private collections worldwide. He has been honored with numerous awards, including the Yuva Kalyan Kendra Bhopal (1976), Kalidas Academy Award Ujjain (1976), Camlin Award  Mumbai (1977), Gwalior State Award (1984), Bharat Bhavan Biennale Award (1990), Senior Artist Fellowship, Government of India (1994-95), Raza Foundation Award, New Delhi (2002), and Kala Kaustubh Sanman, Ujjain (2006) and so on. Currently, his work is being auctioned worldwide.