ABOUT ARTIST

Kingsley is an artist with a diverse creative practice encompassing painting, sculpture, illustration, installation, and book arts.

He obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Visual and Performing Arts in 1978 and later earned a Diploma in Environmental Education from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow in 1994.

Throughout his career, he has held over 30 solo exhibitions in various countries, including Sri Lanka, Glasgow, the Philippines, Ireland, and India. Additionally, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions and artist camps in places like Sri Lanka, Ireland, France, Pakistan, Korea, China, and Japan. Notably, he recently showcased his book art at the Vederah Gallery in India.

Kingsley Gunatillake has been recognized with several national and international awards since 1980, including the prestigious Noma awards from Japan and the Binale Illustration Bratislava award from Czechoslovakia for his picture book illustrations. In 2001, he received the Bunka award for his exceptional traditional painting project, which followed the 1998 bomb blast at the Temple of Tooth, a world heritage site in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

His artwork is featured in both international and local art collections, including the Sri Lanka presidential collection of contemporary art. Currently, Kingsley is actively working at his studio, known as Kande Studio, in Kandy.