Jagath Ravindra (B. 1963)
His canvases have the enviable art of telling stories – from stories of pain, isolation and alienation to those of escape and hope. Jagath Ravindra’s evolution as an artist is a fascinating journey to any art lover.
The transition, which can be traced to four main stages, tells of the aftermath of tragedies, the quest for beauty in a world of pain, broken relationships and finally the emergence of hope and change.” Adilah Ismail
Jagath Ravindra is a leading figure in contemporary Sri Lankan art, known for his evocative abstract works. His paintings examine themes such as impermanence, displacement, memory, and the human search for belonging, blending personal introspection with the universal themes that nourish the souls of all artists. Ravindra has carved a distinctive path as an artist and educator, balancing a deeply personal visual language with broader philosophical and socio-political inquiries.
His works have been widely exhibited in solo and group exhibitions locally and internationally, including shows in countries such as the United Kingdom, Singapore, India, and China. His abstract style and deeply contemplative themes have earned him a respected place among Sri Lanka’s leading contemporary artists. His paintings are part of several private and public collections, and he has been featured in major art festivals and curated exhibitions that spotlight South Asian artistic voices. Through these platforms, Ravindra has played an important role in presenting Sri Lankan contemporary art to a global audience. His artwork is part of the permanent collections at the Xi’an Art Museum, China and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Beyond his studio practice, Jagath Ravindra has been a powerful force in shaping contemporary art education in Sri Lanka. As a professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Visual Arts at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo, he has mentored generations of young artists, advocating for a pedagogy that balances conceptual exploration with technical skill. He encourages his students to look inward, to mine their personal and cultural experiences for artistic material, while remaining open to global artistic dialogues. His own work stands as an example of this ethos, rooted in the specifics of Sri Lankan experience, yet resonant with universal human concerns. Exhibited widely across Asia and Europe, Ravindra’s art continues to invite viewers into spaces of introspection and quiet resistance. In an age often characterized by speed and spectacle, his work reminds us of the enduring value of subtlety, stillness, and the slow unfolding of meaning.
Solo Exhibitions
Year | Exhibition | Venue |
2024 – 2025 | Sobāthma | Paradise Road Galleries, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2020 | Time, Mind and Space | Paradise Road Galleries, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2016 | Blooming Beauty | Paradise Road Galleries, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2008 | Ascending Being | Paradise Road Galleries, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2007 | Fights against Darkness | XVA Gallery, Dubai, UAE |
2005 | Selected Works | Hotel Thilanka, Kandy |
2004 | Born Through the Earth | Paradise Road Galleries, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2004 | The Hope | Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2003 | Reconstructing Man | Paradise Road Galleries, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2000 | Isolation | Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1995 | Moods, ’95 | Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1993 | Moods | Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Group Exhibitions
Year | Exhibition | Venue |
2025 | PIVOT GLIDE ECHO: Second Edition | University of Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2023 | Contemporaneous – Indo-Sri Lanka Group Art Exhibition | Gallery FourLife, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2023 | Exhibition by the Department of Painting, Faculty of Visual Arts | J.D.A. Perera Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2023 | Twenty-fifth Anniversary Exhibition | Paradise Road Galleries. Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2020 | CENTENNIAL Online International Visual Art Exhibition | Lucknow University, India |
2019 | Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Artist Exchange Program Exhibition | Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2019 | One Won Art Exhibition | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2019 | 6th Silk Road International Art Exhibition | Xi’an, China |
2019 | The NEW CRAFTS International Artists Group Exhibition & Seminar | Beijing, China |
2019 | Black & Shades – International Painting Exhibition | University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Sri Lanka |
2017 | National Harmony in Artist’s Eye | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2016 | Department Show, Organized by the Department of Painting, Faculty of Visual Arts, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Sri Lanka. | J.D.A Perera Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2015 | TRANSITION | Mandala Fine Art Gallery, Singapore |
2015 | 5th International Art Festival | Kathmandu, Nepal |
2014 | The Best of The Noble Sage | The Noble Sage, London, UK |
2013 | Temporary Permanence | XVA Gallery, Dubai, UAE |
2012 | Sri Lankan Artists | National Art Gallery |
2011 | SAARC Artists’ Exhibition | J.D.A Perera Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2010 | RM Studio Residency Exhibition | Ejaz Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan |
2009 | Colombo Biennale | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2009 | SAARC Artists’ Exhibitions | Male, Maldives |
2008 | Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
2007 | Visual Art Biennale | Sri Lanka |
2006 | Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
2005 | FOACUS | National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2002 | Serendipity | October Gallery, London, UK |
2001 | Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
1998 | 50th Independence Day Celebration Exhibition | National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1998 | Moods and Moads: 50th Independence Day Celebration Exhibition | National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
1992 | Sensation | National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Publications
Year | Publication |
2024 | Art of Jayantha Premachandra. Published by Zeylanica Books, Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Author) |
2024 | ‘Sobāthma’ Jagath Ravindra, Daily Mirror Life Online, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 7th December 2024. |
2009 | Jagath’s Fourth Phase of Hope. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 13th September, 2009. |
2008 | To See How I See My Art. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 30th March, 2008. |
2004 | His Reality is Surrealism. Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 26th December, 2004. |
Ref :JAGR 1 A\B \C
Title :Up brining memories
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2018
Measurements in Cms :213 x 101
Material Used :Mixed Medium on Canvas
Ref :JAGR 2
Title :Time, Mind & Space 23-1
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2023
Measurements in Cms :59.5 X 49.5
Material Used :Acrylic on canvas
Ref :JAGR 3
Title :Mountains at Dawn
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2023
Measurements in Cms :213.5 x 366
Material Used :Acrylic on Canvas
Ref :JAGR 4
Title :Mountain at Dawn
Signed :Lower Right/Reverse
Year :2024
Measurements in Cms :91.5 x 91.5
Material Used :Acrylic on Canvas
Ref :JAGR 5
Title :Blue Mountain & Yellow Pond
Signed :Lower Right/ Reverse
Year :2024
Measurements in Cms :91.5 x 91.5
Material Used :Acrylic on Canvas
Education
Year | Qualification | Institute |
2014 | MSc in Philosophy | University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka |
1991 | Postgraduate Diploma in Archaeology | University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka |
1990 | BFA | Institute of Aesthetic Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka |
