ABOUT ARTIST

Ishan Gunathilaka is a contemporary Sri Lankan visual artist and painter whose practice is grounded in academic painting traditions and informed by an ongoing exploration of human psychology and emotion.

He holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and a Bachelor of Visual Arts (First Class Honours) from the Department of Painting, Faculty of Visual Arts, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Sri Lanka.

Having developed an interest in art from an early age, Ishan pursued formal training in painting, where his practice initially centred on realistic representations of the human figure. Over time, his work has evolved towards a more expressive and abstract visual language, while retaining the technical foundations of academic painting.

His paintings examine the inner moods and psychological states of the human experience. Drawing on psychoanalytical concepts, he seeks to translate intangible emotions and internal states into visual form. Working primarily in oil on canvas, Ishan combines figurative elements with abstract shapes and expressive compositions to explore the relationship between the visible and the psychological.