who is kumara rathnayaka
Kumara Rathnayaka is poised to take his paintings around the world, and he is on the threshold of scaling the heights of contemporary painting. If he is not the leading artist in contemporary art, he is certainly one of the top few.
Endowed with an abundance of talent, his brush has no limit when it starts moving on canvas. Kumara has no limit to his imagination. He is an impatient artist who tries different strokes. He deliberates the use of light, and shade to capture the mood of the seasons as well as the environment he has stored in his mind. He may be brilliant in color, shade, and light, but a contemporary artist cannot be influenced by nature because there is no method to follow. He paints within the framework of inner imagination and depth.
There is poetry in his art, such as the changing seasons. Their music is hidden between strokes and a language of communication is on display. Globe-trotting, this ambassador of Lankan art has suddenly leaped from his cocoon to challenge the global art scene. It is there in his spirit. There is body language when he speaks about his art. The passion in his painting has a grip on his soul. Kumar let things happen his way, and they are spectacular.
If Impressionism leads straight to Picasso, then contemporary to Sri Lanka’s Kumara Ratnayaka in Asia. Being such an inspirational artist, Kumara has his colors merged into bonding lines to create a visual sensation. It is because he is a modern painter, seeped in contemporary skills. For instance, we cannot trace the ramifications of the movements of modern art in Sri Lanka. It just sprang up and was there for grabs for artists like Kumara. He has 35 years of experience in his art career. He also held many local and foreign art exhibitions, and his paintings have been exhibited in several European countries, such as Germany, Sweden, and Austria, etc.
Solo Exhibition
1992-National Art Gallery, Colombo.
1995-National Art Gallery, Colombo.
1996-LIONAL WENDT ART GALLERY, Colombo 07,Sri Lanka.
1998-Hotel-Rannali island,Maldives/hotel,paradise,Maldives.
1998-LIONAL WENDT ART GALLERY,Colombo 07,Sri lanka.
2000-LIONAL WENDT ART GALLERY,Colombo 07,Sri lanka
2001-JAIC Tower,Union Place,Colombo 02.
2003-CROCADILE cENTRE,Sweedon.
2003-Out Dour Exhibition,Mill,Netherland.
2003-Out Dour Exhibition,Salsburg,Austria.
2004-LIONAL WENDT ART GALLERY,Colombo 07,Sri lanka
2006-Tourist Hotel,Ho-chi-minh city,Vietnam.
2006-Tourist Hotel.Cambodia.
GALLERY,Colombo 07,Sri lanka
2008-LIONAL WENDT ART GALLERY,Colombo 07,Sri lanka
2010-LIONAL WENDT ART GALLERY,Colombo 07,Sri lanka
2012-LIONAL WENDT ART GALLERY,Colombo 07,Sri lanka
2019 – Crown palace hottel ,Ajman ,Dubai
2023-“Invisible Truth” LIONAL WENDT ART GALLERY,Colombo 07,Sri lanka
Group Exhibitions
1992 – “sensation”National Art Gallery,Colombo.
1994 – “Nawa Kalakaruwo” Organized by George Keyt Foundation.
1996 – “Moods & Moods” 50th independents celebration exhibition National art
Galeery,Colombo,Organized by george keyt foundation.
1998 – 50th independent day celebration exhibition, National art Gallery, Colombo, organized by department of culture affairs.
2001 – 114th anniversary exhibition painting and sculpture, National Art Gallery, Colombo 07,Sri lanka.
2005 – “Focus “National Art Gallery, Colombo,Sri Lanka.
2009 – “Colombo beinnale”, Sri lanka.
2011 – SAARC Artist Exhibition JDA gallery, colombo,Sri Lanka, organized by SAARC Culture Centre.
2011 – Exhibition Sri Lanka Art National Art gallery, organized by George Keyt foundation.
2012 – Sri lankan artist, National Art Gallery, Colmbo,Sri lanka, Organized by George keyt Foundation
COMMISSION
1995 – 2023 Paintings in private and public collections in the UK, USA, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Japan, India Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Canada, France, Africa and Australia, etc.
awards
2001 NOV – Highly Commended Painting, Ceylon Society of Arts
2002 SEP – Great Awards, State Art Sculpture Festival
2003 SEP – Great Awards, Sate May Day Art Exhibition
memberships
the Ceylon society of arts, sri lanka- joined 1990
the george keyt foundation, sri lanka – joined 1990