Shanaka Kulathunga, a Sri Lankan-born artist and trained medical professional, brings a distinctive and deeply humanistic perspective to contemporary figurative painting. Born in 1981 and a graduate of the Colombo Medical Faculty, Dr. Kulathunga’s artistic journey is shaped by a dual engagement with science and sensibility. His unique trajectory infuses his work with a profound sensitivity to the human condition, exploring themes of transcendence, serenity, inner light, and emotional nuance through a refined and spiritual visual language.

Kulathunga’s early training at the Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts in Sri Lanka under the mentorship of renowned conceptual artist Dr. Chandraguptha Thenuwara provided him with both technical rigor and conceptual depth. While his style resonates with spiritual undertones and ethereal minimalism, Kulathunga is also firmly rooted in the figurative tradition. His primary interest lies in portraiture and the human figure, subjects he renders with quiet dignity, expressive detail, and psychological insight. His models are often drawn from daily encounters, depicting individuals from diverse walks of life whose characters and lived experiences inspire deeply empathetic portrayals.

Informed by themes of struggle, dreams, and emotional resilience, Kulathunga’s works balance the formal beauty of fine draftsmanship with a contemplative, often meditative atmosphere. His use of delicate tonal gradations and atmospheric backgrounds suggests an inner world of stillness and introspection, positioning his figures not only as physical beings but also as vessels of memory, silence, and spirit. There is a timeless quality to his work—where perception blurs with presence, and thought gives way to quiet revelation.

Kulathunga’s practice has garnered both national and international recognition. He received the professional category accolade at the 'SPECULO' Art Exhibition organized by Sri Lankan Airlines in 2017, and his portraiture was honored at the State Arts and Sculpture Festival in the same year. His work has been regularly showcased at key Sri Lankan art platforms, including the prestigious George Keyt Foundation’s annual exhibitions. In 2017, he held his first solo exhibition, a compelling series inspired by real-life subjects that marked a significant moment in his artistic evolution.

Internationally, Kulathunga represented Sri Lanka at the International Exhibition of Artists for Peace during the Shanghai Cooperation Bishkek Summit in Kyrgyzstan in 2019 and participated in the China-Ningxia Cultural Exchange. His contributions continue to deepen the global discourse on portraiture, identity, and the transformative power of visual storytelling.