Kingsley Gunatillake’s oeuvre represents a trajectory in Sri Lankan contemporary art in which abstract ideas are expressed through the physicality of their chosen medium. Inspired by the expressive linearity of Chinese and Japanese ink paintings Gunatillake’s sculptures and paintings attempt to communicate the untranslatable weight of human emotions and experience. The artist exploits the malleable properties of metal to create a rhythmic engagement of the senses in his sculptures. His practice also delves into the political landscape that shaped the post-independence history of Sri Lanka through book art, while also contributing to children's illustrations. Gunatillake's practice is rooted in overarching themes of socio-political and environmental concerns.
Gunatillake completed his BFA at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (1979), and a Diploma in Environmental Education from the University of Strathclyde, UK (1994). He is currently a visiting lecturer in the Faculty of Visual Arts at the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo. Gunatillake has also received two NOMA Awards from Japan (1993 and 2003), as well as the award for illustration at the Biennale Bratislava, Slovakia (1997). In 2001, he was honoured with the Bunka Award for Visual Arts for his exceptional work at the Temple of the Tooth World Heritage site in Sri Lanka.
His work has been exhibited at Frieze Seoul, Seoul (2024), Pivot Glide Echo, Colombo (2024), and the India Art Fair (2020). His works are part of collections across Sri Lanka, Europe, and Asia, including the Presidential Collection of Contemporary Art in Sri Lanka.