“His unique scholarly contribution to the literature of Sri Lankan Art has been a significant and unavoidable landmark of the writing of Sri Lankan art.” Dumith Kulasekara

Albert Dharmasiri is a distinguished Sri Lankan artist, art historian, and educator whose multifaceted career has significantly influenced the country’s visual arts landscape. He is best known for his scholarly work on modern art, the paintings of George Keyt and David Paynter in particular. Dharmasiri was a student of Paynter at the Government School of Fine Arts. The tutelage of the master artist is a major influence on both Dharmasiri’s artwork and academic endeavors.

Dharmasiri authored George Keyt: A Portrait of the Artist, a critical examination of one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated modern painters. Drawing from personal acquaintance and extensive research, Dharmasiri provides insights into Keyt’s artistic journey and his role in the broader context of South Asian modern art. His co-authored work, Sri Lankan Painting in the 20th Century, with Senake Bandaranayake, offers a comprehensive overview of the evolution of Sri Lankan painting, highlighting the blend of traditional and modern influences that defined the nation’s art throughout the century. This publication is considered a significant resource for understanding the trajectory of Sri Lankan visual arts in the modern era.

He served as the first Professor of Painting and then the first Emeritus Professor of Painting at the University of Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA) in Colombo. Over more than three decades, Dharmasiri played a pivotal role in shaping art education in Sri Lanka, mentoring generations of artists and contributing to the academic discourse on art. In recognition of his contributions and capacity, he was elected to the Executive Committee of the International Association of Art (IAA-UNESCO) in Paris in 1983, becoming its Vice-Chairman in 1986.

In addition to his academic endeavors, Dharmasiri is an accomplished artist himself, specializing in painting, printmaking, and graphic design. The influence of Paynter is quite visible in Dharmasiri’s paintings of the human body. His artworks have been exhibited internationally, including participation in the Expressions of Independence exhibition at the Mona Bismarck Foundation in Paris in 2008. He was also responsible for recreating the famed Sigiri apsara frescos as exhibits when the Sigiriya museum was set up. Through his creative practice, Dharmasiri continues to engage with themes central to Sri Lankan identity and heritage, further cementing his legacy as a key figure in the nation’s artistic and cultural narrative.