H. A. Karunaratne (B1929 )
“Karunaratne’s abstraction in art is a search for an aesthetic experience that is informed by certain aspects of Buddhism. He adopted an approach similar to Buddhism’s idea of self-search and ultimate spiritual attainment.
Reality and change, the idea of impermanency, formed the basis of his ideas of automatism and spontaneity. One lives in the moment, catching the impulses of that moment on canvas, giving room for change in the next. All things are in constant movement, and colouration and decolouration are its visual recordings or the marks of that movement.” Anoli Perera
H.A. Karunaratne is widely regarded as the father of abstract art in Sri Lanka. His pioneering work over more than six decades has profoundly shaped the nation’s modern art landscape. Karunaratne’s artistic journey began at the Government College of Fine Arts in Colombo, where he studied under influential mentors such as Stanley Abeysinghe and David Paynter. His pursuit of artistic excellence led him abroad, earning a Japanese Government Scholarship to study at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1961, and later a Fulbright Award to attend the Pratt Institute in New York in 1966.
Karunaratne’s distinctive style is characterized by an innovative use of diverse materials—including fabric, metal, and found objects—to create compositions that evoke rhythm, energy, and dissonance. His approach reflects influences from American Abstract Expressionism, as well as Buddhist and Zen philosophies, resulting in works that are both dynamic and contemplative. Throughout his career, Karunaratne has participated in numerous international exhibitions, including the São Paulo Biennale (1969), the 3rd Asian Art Biennale in Dhaka (1986), and the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan (1989), showcasing his work to a global audience.
Beyond his artistic practice, Karunaratne has made significant contributions to art education in Sri Lanka. In 1975, he joined the Institute of Aesthetic Studies (now the University of the Visual and Performing Arts) as a lecturer, where he mentored aspiring artists and promoted the principles of abstraction and experimental art-making. His commitment to nurturing creativity extended to public art projects, including notable murals at the Sri Lanka Satellite Station and near the Kelaniya Bridge, further embedding his influence in the country’s cultural fabric.
Karunaratne’s contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, such as the Kala Suri by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays by the Japanese government. Even at the age of 95, Karunaratne continues to inspire with exhibitions like Water of Life, held in 2025, reaffirming his status as a seminal figure in the evolution of abstract art in Sri Lanka.
Solo Exhibitions
Year | Exhibition | Venue |
2025 | Water of Life | Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2022 | Zen | Embassy of Japan, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2019 | Book Launch Event & Art Exhibition | BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2012 | Dr. H. A. Karunaratne ‘The Father of Sri Lankan Abstract Art in Retrospect’ | Alliance Francoise, Kandy, Sri Lanka |
2011 | Beyond the Boundary | J.D.A. Perera Art Gallery, Sri Lanka |
2010 | Art Exhibition | J.D.A. Perera Art Gallery, Sri Lanka |
2004 | SAARC Artists’ Exhibition | Alhamra, Lahore, Pakistan |
2004 | Probing the Soul III | Thambapani Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2003 | An Exhibition of Art and Sculpture by H. A. Karunaratne | Mahaweli Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2000 | Soul Searching | The Lanka Oberoi, Colombo, Sri Lanka, |
1997 | The Art of Sensibility | The Heritage Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1993 | Deutsche Bank, Colombo, Sri Lanka | |
1992 | Roots of Art | Deutsche Bank G.M., Bernhard. A. Steinruecke Residence, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1990 | National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka | |
1989 | Exhibition Paintings and Lithographs by H. A. Karunaratne | Gakuyusha Gallery & Box Gallery, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan |
1988 | National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka | |
1984 – 1987 | Hotel Lanka Oberoi, Colombo, Sri Lanka | |
1982 | Exhibition of Paintings by H. A. Karunaratne | Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1982 | United States Information Center & Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka | |
1981 | Melbourne, Australia & Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka | |
1970 | Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka | |
1963 | Exhibition of Paintings by H. A. Karunaratne | USIS Library, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1962 | Exhibition of Paintings and Lithographs | Lionel Wendt Hall, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1961 | Metropolitan Gallery, Tokyo, Japan | |
1960 | Exhibition of Paintings and Lithographs | Sogo Department Store, Yurakucho, Tokyo, Japan |
1959 | Fuji Denko Gallery, Tokyo, Japan | |
1956 | Exhibition of Painting and Lithograph by H. A. Karunaratne | United States Information Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1956 | Colombo Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Group Exhibitions
Year | Exhibition | Venue |
2024 | Pivot Glide Echo | Lionel Wendt Art Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2018 | State Art and Sculpture Festival | JDA Perera Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2016 | Department Show: An Exhibition of Paintings | JDA Perera Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2015 | UVPA 10th Anniversary Show: Visual Art Exhibition | JDA Perera Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2011 | Lionel Wendt Festival of Art | Lionel Wendt Art Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2008 | World Open Art Festival | South Korea |
1998 | Asia Print Adventure | Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Hokkaido, Japan |
1990 | George Keyt Foundation Exhibition | Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1989 | 3rd Asian Art Show | Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan |
1988 | The Ceylon Society of Arts’ Centenary Exhibition | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1986 | 3rd Asian Art Biennale | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
1985 | 2nd Asian Art Show | Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan |
1981 | South Asia Festival of Culture | National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, India |
1980 | Contemporary Asian Art Show | Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan |
1974 | Asia Today | Milan, Italy |
1973 | World Print Competition | University of California, Los Angeles, USA |
1969 | 10th São Paulo Biennale | São Paulo, Brazil |
1966 | 5th Tokyo International Print Biennale Exhibition | Tokyo, Japan |
1957 | 1st Young Asian Artists Exhibition | Shibuya Tokyo Department Store, Tokyo, Japan |
1955 | International Buddhist Art Exhibition | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Publications
Year | Publication |
2025 | “Water of Life” Solo Exhibition by Renowned Artist H.A. Karunaratne at PRSFG. DailyFT, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 15th March 2025. |
2025 | Exploring Abstract Expressionism at 95. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 02nd March 2025. |
2019 | Modern Art, History and Politics? Artra Magazine, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 20th June 2019. |
2019 | In Pursuit of the Spiritual. Artra Magazine, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 5th August 2019. |
2019 | H A Karunaratne. Written by Anoli Perera. Published by Taprobane Collection, Colombo, Sri Lanka. |
2019 | H.A. Karunaratne’s Works Chronicled by Taprobane Collection. DailyFT, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 14th June 2019. |
2011 | Painting, An Act of Faith. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 13th November 2011. |
Ref :HAK 14
Title :Untitled
Signed :Upper Left
Year :1952
Measurements in Cms :81 x 91.5
Material Used :Oil/Canvass
Ref :HAK 115
Signed :Lower Right
Year :1956
Measurements in Cms :102 x 132.5
Material Used :Oil/Canvass
Ref :HAK 426
Title :Self Portrait
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1968
Measurements in Cms :46 x 39
Material Used :Oil on Canvass
Ref :HAK 56
Title :Music
Signed :Upper Left
Year :1982
Measurements in Cms :134 x 91
Material Used :Oil / Canvas
Ref :HAK 113
Signed :Lower Right
Year :1984
Measurements in Cms :134 x 91.5
Material Used :Oil/Canvass
Ref :HAK 29
Title :The Fish
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1984
Measurements in Cms :134 x 91
Material Used :Acrylic on Canvass
Ref :HAK 39
Title :Flower Trap
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1985
Measurements in Cms :138 .5 x 96.5
Material Used :Oil / Canvass
Ref :HAK 43
Title :Untitled
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1985
Measurements in Cms :138 x 97
Material Used :Oil / Canvass
Ref :HAK 50
Title :Untitled
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1985
Measurements in Cms :138 x 96.5
Material Used :Oil / Canvass
Ref :HAK 62
Title :Untitled
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1985
Measurements in Cms :96.5 x 139.5
Material Used :Oil / Canvass
Ref :HAK 187
Title :The Wild Buffalo
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1985
Measurements in Cms :98 x 139.5
Material Used :Oil/Canvass
Ref :HAK 41
Title :Rain on the River
Signed :Upper Left
Year :1986
Measurements in Cms :141 x 98
Material Used :Oil / Canvas
Ref :HAK 121
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1988
Measurements in Cms :112 x 91.5
Material Used :Oil/Canvass
Ref :HAK 186
Title :Woman
Signed :Upper Left
Year :1988
Measurements in Cms :134 x 91
Material Used :Oil/Canvass
Ref :HAK 3
Title :Soul Searching
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1985
Measurements in Cms :61 x 48
Material Used :Oil/Canvass
Ref :HAK 4
Title :Soul Searching
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2000
Measurements in Cms :91.5 x 69
Material Used :Mixed Medium
Ref :HAK 13
Signed :Lower Left
Year :2000
Measurements in Cms :70 x 93
Material Used :
Mixed Medium Aluminum Sculpture
Ref :HAK 89
Title :Untitled
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2000
Measurements in Cms :71 x 73.5
Material Used :Tile/Wood
Ref :HAK 107
Title :Arrested Rhythm
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2000
Measurements in Cms :117.5 x 163
Material Used :Oil / Canvas / Aluminum / Nails
Ref :HAK 152
Title :Untitled
Signed :Lower Left
Year :2000
Measurements in Cms :85 x 91.5
Material Used :Oil/Canvass
Ref :HAK 227
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2000
Measurements in Cms :99.5 x 77
Material Used :Oil on Canvass
Ref :HAK 38
Title :Untitled
Signed :Upper Right
Year :2009
Measurements in Cms :123 x 194
Material Used :Paint / Wood / Aluminum Rods / Sheets /Nails / Iron
Ref :HAK 19
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2010
Measurements in Cms :79.5 x 99.5
Material Used :Acrylic / Mixed Media Canvass
Ref :HAK 36
Title :Soul Searching
Signed :Lower Left
Year :2010
Measurements in Cms :110 x 85.5
Material Used :Mixed Medium
Ref :HAK 66
Title :Evolution
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2010
Measurements in Cms :88.5 x 76
Material Used :Oil/ / Aluminum /Nails / Wood
Ref :HAK 270
Title :Untitled
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2010
Measurements in Cms :61.5 x 48
Material Used :Oil/ Canvas /Aluminum/ Nails / Wire
Ref :HAK 163
Title :Untitled
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2011
Measurements in Cms :100 x 80
Material Used :Oil/ Canvas /Aluminum/ Nails
Ref :HAK 269
Title :Being out there
Signed :Lower Left
Year :2011
Measurements in Cms :60 x 69.5
Material Used :Oil/ Canvas/ Aluminum /Nails
Ref :HAK 512
Title :Untitled
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2012
Measurements in Cms :217.5 x 227.5
Material Used :Aluminum/ nails/ wire/ nuts/ bolts/ Galvanized sheets / frame / Paint
Ref :HAK487
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2015
Measurements in Cms :80 x 120
Material Used : Aluminum, Hinges, Canvass
Rings. Nails, Acrylic
Ref :HAK 88
Title :The Fish
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :75 x 122.5
Material Used :Wood / Tile / Mesh / Cement .Iron
Ref :HAK 511
Title :Homage to Sun God
Measurements in Cms :230 x 297
Material Used :Reinforced Concrete
Ref :HAK 620
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :29.5 x 20
Material Used :Water Colour on Paper
Education
Year | Qualification | Institute |
1966 | Major in Graphic Art | Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, USA |
1961 | Postgraduate course in Oil Painting and Graphic Art | Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Tokyo, Japan |
1958 | Advanced Course in Drawing and Painting | Government College of Fine Arts, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
