Born and brought up in Bangalore, Murthy has completed 5 years Diploma in Drawing, Painting and Modeling in 1982.

He has participated in many State, National and International exhibitions and is a recipient of prestigious awards at the national and international levels and has more than eighteen solo exhibitions to his credit. His work is in the permanent collections at National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi and has many art collectors across India and abroad.

Iran Academy of Arts has honoured him with a Biennale International Award for his work titled 'The Light' in the year 2003 and also a recipient of Rajyostava award, by the Government of Karnataka in the year 2010, for his achievement in the field of art.

His first book in Kannada title "Desi Nagu" Collections of Essays -2006, has received the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and his first play in Kannada 'Yashodhare Malagiralilla' based on Buddha's Philosophy -2007, was adjudged as the Best Regional Play by AIR, Bangalore.

An artist and literary figure with a doctorate D. Litt from Hampi University, Karnataka, for his work on the "Pictures of Child Mind". He has researched in Rural India for the doctoral thesis. He has presented several research papers and conducted various workshops. Presently, he lives and works in his studio 'Bhoomi', at Bangalore