The Vishnu Manchu Art Foundation began with an encounter that changed its founder’s perspective on art. In 2009, while visiting an art gallery in New York, Vishnu Manchu came across a striking painting of a Hindu God by an artist named Ramesh Gorijala. Intrigued by the work, Vishnu sought out the artist, only to realize that Ramesh hailed from Srikalahasti, a small village near Tirupati, just a short distance from Mohan Babu University, where Vishnu serves as Pro-Chancellor.

This encounter ignited a vision in Vishnu: to bring recognition to extraordinary artists who are often overlooked in their own homeland but appreciated globally. In 2014, this vision became a reality with the formation of VMAF. Today, the foundation is a hub for creative minds, supporting a range of charitable initiatives and academic scholarships that honour the names of artists whose work is sold through the foundation.