Jenny, What the Light Withholds
Oil on Canvas, 60 x 80 cm
This piece is from the series -What Silence Carries
Portrait & Figurative Art
Maria Abeyesekere is a contemporary realist and hyperrealist portrait and figurative artist whose work explores identity, emotion, presence and the quiet complexities of human experience. Working primarily in oil and graphite, she combines meticulous observation and technical precision with an expressive sensitivity to light, character and atmosphere.
Her portraits seek to reveal more than physical likeness, capturing the individuality and emotional presence of each subject. Her figurative paintings extend this exploration through gesture, symbolism and narrative, creating works that invite a deeper connection between the viewer and the subject.
Alongside her portrait and figurative practice, Maria also creates botanical art as an ongoing body of work, including carefully observed botanical series inspired by the remarkable flora of Sri Lanka.
Botanical Art
Original Botanical Paintings & Series
Alongside her portrait and figurative practice, Maria Abeyesekere creates botanical art inspired by the extraordinary plant life of Sri Lanka. Her botanical paintings combine close observation, artistic sensitivity and scientific accuracy, capturing the distinctive forms, structures and character of each plant.
Botanical art has become an important ongoing body of her work, including carefully developed series that explore the diversity and beauty of Sri Lanka's flora. Through these paintings, Maria seeks to preserve and celebrate the natural world while bringing its intricate beauty into the context of fine art.
LARGE-SCALE PAINTING COMMISSIONS
Original Art Created for Private and Professional Spaces
Maria Abeyesekere creates large-scale original paintings commissioned for private residences, corporate spaces, interiors and other significant environments. Drawing on her contemporary realist practice, she develops each work specifically for the client and the character of the intended space.
Commissioned subjects may include portraiture, figurative art, nature-inspired compositions, landscapes, wildlife, still life and florals. Each painting is developed as a unique original work, with careful attention to scale, composition, light, colour and atmosphere.
Enquiries are welcome from private collectors, interior designers, architects, businesses and organizations.
EXHIBITIONS, AWARDS & INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
Maria Abeyesekere's paintings have been exhibited internationally, with a particular presence in the United States and Europe, and are held in private collections across both regions. Her work spans contemporary realism, portraiture, figurative art and botanical painting, with a career dedicated to technical excellence, observation and expressive storytelling.
Her recent recognition includes the 2025 French Riviera Prize and Poseidon Prize, alongside participation in international exhibitions and events, including Art Expo New York 2025. In 2025, she was also invited to represent Sri Lanka at Botanical Art Worldwide '25 India.
Her work has also been featured in publications and platforms dedicated to contemporary art and botanical art.
