Resting Fighter

Maria Abeyesekere is a Sri Lankan contemporary realist and figurative artist with more than 35 years of professional experience. Working primarily in oil and graphite, her practice is distinguished by meticulous observation, refined realism and a profound sensitivity to human expression, character and emotion. Although portraiture and figurative art form the core of her practice, Abeyesekere also explores the natural world through highly detailed wildlife and botanical works. Her paintings of Sri Lanka's endemic species reflect her close relationship with the island's extraordinary biodiversity, while her botanical studies combine artistic precision with an interest in scientific accuracy and conservation. A self-taught artist, Abeyesekere has developed an individual approach rooted in contemporary realism and hyperrealism. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is held in private collections in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere. She has also represented Sri Lanka in international artistic and botanical initiatives and has received international recognition, including the French Riviera Prize and the Poseidon Prize in Venice. Her paintings seek to go beyond visual likeness, whether portraying a person, an animal or a botanical subject, to convey presence, character and the quiet emotional qualities found within the subject itself.