Anoma Wijewardena (b. 1951)
“An abstract artist for sure, but a glimpse of the hazy figures, the mysterious shadows add all the depth and substance to her works. They put across a subtle message, set your grey cells working and leave you looking for more of her palette.” Sahar Zaman
Anoma Wijewardene is a distinguished contemporary artist from Sri Lanka, known for her evocative and thought-provoking work that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. Throughout her career, which has spanned several decades, she has explored the themes of sustainability, diversity, identity, and reconciliation. Her art, characterized by a mix of abstract expressionism and multimedia installations, engages deeply with global and local concerns, making her one of Sri Lanka’s most internationally recognized artists.
She pursued her formal art education at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, one of the world’s most prestigious institutions for creative studies. Her education provided exposure to a wide range of artistic techniques and movements, allowing her to develop a distinctive style. She spent over thirty years in the United Kingdom, during which she gained significant experience and honed her artistic talents. Her time abroad not only shaped her technical skills but also influenced her thematic concerns, as she became increasingly attuned to contemporary global issues.
Anoma’s influences are diverse and encompass both historical and contemporary artistic movements. Her early inspirations include the Renaissance and Impressionist painters, whose work she admired for their mastery of light and colour. She was also drawn to Expressionism and Pop Art, appreciating their emotive intensity and bold visual language. Additionally, her Sri Lankan heritage played a crucial role in shaping her aesthetic sensibilities, as she found inspiration in traditional South Asian art, Chinese and Mughal motifs, and the vibrant natural landscapes of her homeland. Beyond painting, she has been influenced by a range of creative expressions, including opera, conceptual and postmodern art, and the works of artists such as Bill Viola and Andy Goldsworthy, both of whom explore themes of impermanence and transformation in their work. This eclectic mix of influences is evident in her art, which seamlessly blends different mediums and philosophies to create compelling visual narratives.
Thematically, Anoma Wijewardene’s work revolves around pressing contemporary issues, particularly those related to the environment, identity, and human relationships. She often addresses the fragile balance between nature and human intervention, advocating for sustainability and environmental consciousness. Her work also touches on themes of isolation and transformation, particularly concerning migration and displacement, issues that resonate strongly in today’s world. A recurring motif in her art is the exploration of reconciliation, both on a personal and societal level, often using layered imagery and poetic elements to convey a sense of healing and renewal. Her multidisciplinary approach incorporates digital media, sculpture, video, and text, allowing her to create immersive experiences that engage audiences on multiple sensory levels.
One of her notable recent exhibitions, titled “Reflect: Reframe: Renew,” was a powerful showcase of her artistic vision and commitment to social discourse. This exhibition focused on the themes of feminine energy, introspection, and regeneration, drawing inspiration from literature, poetry, and the voices of women’s rights activists. Through a series of abstract paintings and mixed-media pieces, Anoma invited viewers to consider the evolving roles of women in society and the need for a renewed perspective on gender narratives. The exhibition was praised for its depth and poignancy, reinforcing her reputation as an artist who uses her platform to challenge and inspire.
Anoma Wijewardene’s artistic contributions extend beyond gallery spaces. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including in London, New York, Singapore, and Sydney, further solidifying her presence in the global art scene. She has also collaborated on public projects and initiatives that advocate for peace and environmental sustainability. Her ability to address universal concerns through a deeply personal and culturally rooted lens makes her a unique voice in contemporary art.
Her career continues to evolve as she explores new mediums and collaborations, always pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Anoma Wijewardene remains a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s art scene, inspiring both emerging artists and global audiences. As she continues her journey, her work serves as a powerful reminder of the role of art in fostering dialogue, reflection, and change in an increasingly complex world.
Solo Exhibitions
Year | Exhibition | Venue |
2024 | Mercedes-Benz Art | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2022 | Alliance Francaise | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2020 | Stella Downer Fine Art | Sydney, Australia |
2016 | Elysium Collection | Galle, Sri Lanka |
2013 | The Noble Sage Collection | London, UK |
2012 | Saskia Fernando Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2012 | Paradise Road Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2012 | Dutch Hospital | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2012 | Fort Printers | Galle, Sri Lanka |
2010 | Wright & Teague | London, UK |
2009 | One & Only, Reethi Rah | Maldives |
2007 | The British Residence | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2007 | The Printers | Galle, Sri Lanka |
2006 | The National Art Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2005 | Stella Downer Gallery | Sydney, Australia |
2004 | Paradise Road Galleries | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2002 | Havelock Place Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2002 | Paradise Road Galleries | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2002 | Art Heritage | New Delhi, India |
1999 | Gallerie Taksu | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
1993 | Barefoot Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Group Ehibitions
Year | Exhibition | Venue |
2023 | Saskia Fernando Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2022 | Camden Image Gallery | London, UK |
2021 | Clerkenwell Gallery | London, UK |
2019 | Camden Gallery | London, UK |
2019 | European Cultural Centre | Palazzo Bembo, Venice, Italy |
2016 | Sotheby’s Gallery | Hong Kong |
2015 | Vivid Strokes | Singapore |
2015 | Candid Art Gallery | London, UK |
2011 | Saskia Fernando Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2011 | Asia House | London, UK |
2011 | Amangalle | Galle, Sri Lanka |
2010 | XVA Gallery | Dubai, UAE |
2010 | The Noble Sage Gallery | London, UK |
2009 | Colombo Art Biennale | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2009 | National Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2007 | The Noble Sage Gallery | London, UK |
2007 | Lalit Kala Akademi | New Delhi, India |
2007 | Barefoot Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2007 | The Taj Palace | New Delhi, India |
2007 | The National Art Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2006 | Harold Peiris Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2006 | Paradise Road Galleries | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2006 | National Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2005 | International Art on Paper Fair | Sydney, Australia |
2004 | Phillip Bacon Gallery | Brisbane, Australia |
2001 | Artfolio Gallery | Singapore |
2000 | Sapumal Foundation | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2000 | Mountcastle Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2000 | Gallerie Taksu | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
1998 | Gallerie Taksu | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
1994 | TransAsia | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1991 | National Art Gallery | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1986 | Rooksmoor Gallery | Bath, UK |
1985 | Bridge Gallery | Bath, UK |
1982 | Artsite | Bath, UK |
1981 | Victoria & Albert Museum | London, UK |
1980 | The House of Commons | London, UK |
1978 | Contemporary Applied Arts | London, UK |
1975 | The Photographers Gallery | London, UK |
1974 | Sekers | London, UK |
Publications
Year | Publication |
2025 | Kintsugi. Extension of the permanent display Kitsungi at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Authored by Romesh Gunasekera. |
2025 | Kintsugi: A Celebration of Restoration and Unity. Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 22nd February 2025. |
2025 | Kintsugi, A Book From Anoma and Romesh. The Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 23rd February 2025. |
2025 | Kintsugi: A Journey to Healing through Harmony. At Cinnamon Life, Colombo. Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 25th January 2025. |
2025 | ‘Kintsugi’ Portrays the Art of Transformation and Resilience. The Morning, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 18th January 2025. |
2025 | Kintsugi: Journey of Fracture, Healing, and Hope. DailyFT, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 18th January 2025. |
2024 | Reframed: The Power of Women. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 01st December 2024. |
2024 | Reflect: Reframe: Renewal Anoma Wijewardene at SLDF. Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 07th November 2024. |
2019 | Anoma. Monograph with a chronology, profile, and the artist’s process, plus over 200 illustrations of international exhibitions. |
2019 | ‘Anoma’ the Monograph Launched in Colombo. DailyFT, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 20th September 2019. |
2019 | ‘Anoma’ the Monograph Launched in Colombo. The Morning, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 15th September 2019. |
2019 | ANOMA – A Symbiosis of Art and Words. Daily Mirror Life Online. 6th September 2019. |
2019 | The Bold and the Intangible: An Artist Unveiled. The Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 08th September 2019. |
2019 | A Visual Treat and the Story of an Artist and Her Country. The Sunday Times. September 15, 2019. |
2019 | Anoma: A Review. DailyFT, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 6th September 2019. |
2019 | A Delight to the Eye and a Challenge to the Conscience. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 1st December 2019. |
2019 | Sri Lankan Artist Sounds Climate Alarm in New Paintings. The Commonwealth Secretariat Website, London, United Kingdom. 26th November 2019. |
2019 | Anoma Wijewardene First Sri Lankan Solo Artist to Show During ‘Olympics’ of Art: Venice Biennale. DailyFT, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 14th June 2019. |
2019 | Anoma’s Art on Coexistence at the Palazzo Bembo During the Venice Biennale. Daily Mirror Life Online. 18th June 2019. |
2016 | Anoma’s ‘Mi Casa Es Tu Casa’ at CAB: A Celebration of Unity in Diversity. DailyFT, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 6th May 2016. |
2016 | Anoma Wijewardene in Silk Road Group Exhibition. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 24th April, 2016. |
2016 | Art, Ecology, and Religion: Intersecting Landscapes on the 21st Century Silk Road. Buddhistdoor Global. 22nd April 2016. |
2016 | Anoma Wijewardene Responds to Normalisation of the Unconscionable at Colombo Art Biennale 2016. DailyFT, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 9th December 2016. |
2016 | Artist and Poet Drawn to the Wonder of Earth. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 10th January 2016. |
2016 | Art Calls to Act: EarthLines for Climate Change. DailyFT, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 14th January 2016. |
2012 | Interview with Anoma Wijewardene on ‘Deliverance’. Groundviews, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 06th November 2012. |
2009 | Anoma Has Successful London Exhibition. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 05th July 2009. |
2006 | Anoma’s Search for Peace. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 28th May 2006. |
2006 | Come, Enter and Share This Visual Poem. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 04th June 2006. |
2004 | ‘Departure and Return Paintings’ by Anoma Wijewardene. Daily News, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 15th November 2004. |
Ref :AW 1
Title : Arab & Falcon
Signed :Lower Left
Measurements in Cms :85 x 67
Material Used :Oil on Canvass
Ref :AW 2
Title :I seem to be alone & not alone I am with nobody & I speak for all
Signed :Lower right
Measurements in Cms :64 x 47
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 3
Title :Be Patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart & try to love the Questions themselves
Signed :Lower right
Measurements in Cms :31.5 x 50
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 4
Title :Together and apart: we are one
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :74 x 86.5
Material Use :Mixed media on paper
Ref :AW 5
Title :I saw the dreamer in her ,had fallen in love with me & She did not know it
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :65 x 64.5
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 6
Title :Lovers do not finally meet some where they are in each other all along
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :60 x 40
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 7
Title :These must come a full pause to Weave partition into Music
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :41 x 28.5
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 8
Title :And where the old Tracks are lost a new country is revealed with its Wonders
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :34 x 57
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 9
Title :Emerging purified through the strife and struggle
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :90.5 x 90.5
Material Used :Digital on board
Ref :AW 10
Title :Untitled
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :76.5 x 44.5
Material Used :Mixed Media
Ref :AW 11
Title :Untitled
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :77 x 45
Material Used :Mixed Media
Ref :AW 12
Title :Leopard Series
Measurements in Cms :17 x 21
Material Used :Mixed Medium
Ref :AW 13
Title :What was hidden inside was no longer hidden
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :33 x 25
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 14
Title :Only you and You
Signed :Lower Left
Measurements in Cms :25 x 33
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 15
Title :Swallows from the first summer on the other side of the world
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :30 x 29.5
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 16
Title :But tread carefully ..Someone was living here once .
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :29.5 x 29
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 17
Title :There is a line you want to find .It begins here .
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :36.5 x 32.5
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 18
Title :Hide
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :41 x 51
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 19
Title :They bring messages
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :58.5 x 41.5
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 20
Title :To hope is to migrate from shadow to light
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :47.5 x 33
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 21
Title :Let us make a covenant, you and I .No one else needs to know
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :59.5 x 75.5
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Ref :AW 22
Title : Is it a trick of the light? Is it true? Is it you ?
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :66 x 59.5
Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper
Education
Year | Qualification | Institute |
1974 | Master of Arts | Central St Martins College, University of The Arts, London, UK |
1973 | Bachelor of Arts | Central St Martins College, University of The Arts, London, UK |
1970 | Foundation | College of Art, University of Loughborough, UK |
