Teenage artist Akhil Anand doesn't just paint; he weaves together math, mythology, and the mysteries of nature into stunning visual narratives. At just 14, the Chennai-based artist is gearing up for his solo exhibition, Morphogenesis, where Fibonacci spirals, Indian temple motifs, and Islamic geometry collide on canvas.

Akhil's creative world is rich and multidimensional. Trained under artist Diana Satish since the age of nine, he has worked alongside rural artisans in West Bengal, founded the inclusive design initiative Hastha, authored The HeART of Math, and coined 'Akhilisms, ' his language of design. Yet behind the accolades lies a grounded, curious teen who finds joy in travel, textures, and the occasional Star Wars binge with his father, five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand.

During the pandemic, I came across the Fibonacci sequence. I soon realised that it explained so many patterns in nature, and I started drawing it. Later on, I became interested in Islamic art because of M.C. Escher. I then started thinking about Sphinxes in Indian art and temples, and slowly I realised that patterns connected all of them.