Award-Winning Portrait Painter & Hyperrealist — Maria Abeyesekere
Maria Abeyesekere (b. 1970) is an award-winning fine art portrait painter and hyperrealist, celebrated for creating lifelike portraits that capture emotion, personality, and essence with exquisite precision. Working primarily in oil and graphite, she transforms every subject into a timeless piece of art that resonates with collectors and art enthusiasts worldwide. Over her 35- year career, Maria's hyperrealism portraits have earned international recognition, attracting commissions from Europe, the USA, and the Middle East. Each of her painting reflects a meticulous blend of technical mastery and storytelling, offering a truly immersive artistic experience.
The Artist’s Journey
From Inspiration to Mastery: Maria Abeyesekere’s Story
Maria Abeyesekere’s artistic journey began with a fascination for capturing the human spirit and the natural world with extraordinary precision.
Artistic Style & Philosophy
Hyperrealism, Emotion, and Timeless Portraits
Maria’s work is defined by a dedication to hyperrealism and fine art craftsmanship. Each portrait is carefully composed to capture not just the physical likeness of the subject, but their essence, character, and story. By combining meticulous detail with subtle emotional cues, her paintings invite viewers into a world where art transcends mere representation and becomes a lasting emotional experience.
Painting Process
Each of Maria’s portraits is created using a meticulous layer-upon-layer painting process, typically involving 3 to 4 layers. She begins with a precise underpainting, establishing proportions and composition. The first layers lay the foundation with mid-tones and base colors, followed by additional layers that build depth, texture, and subtle details. In the final layers, she refines highlights, shadows, and nuances of expression, ensuring that every feature is lifelike and full of emotion. This methodical approach is what gives her hyperrealism portraits their depth, realism, and soul.
Unlike many artists, Maria does not use glazing techniques on her human portraits. This preserves the purity and depth of skin tones, ensuring that every brushstroke contributes to the natural warmth and realism of her subjects. She reserves glazing only occasionally for wildlife and nature-inspired works, where transparent layers help capture the luminosity of fur, feathers, and foliage. In all her paintings, oil paints are only slightly diluted when creating ultra-thin lines.
Awards & Recognition
Celebrated Across the Globe especially USA, UK, Italy, Spain, France, Germany and many more European countries and Middle East
An award-winning artist, Maria Abeyesekere has been honoured internationally for her mastery in fine art portraiture, wildlife & nature inspired art and hyperrealism. She has proudly represented Sri Lanka at distinguished global art events, bringing the nation’s artistic heritage to an international audience through her unique style and storytelling.
Maria was honoured with the “International Artists of the French Riviera Prize” in France, a recognition celebrating her exceptional contribution to contemporary realism. In November, she will receive the prestigious “Poseidon Prize” in Venice, further affirming her growing reputation among the world’s leading fine art painters.
Her works continue to gain international attention from galleries, collectors, and exhibitions across Europe, the USA, and the Middle East, establishing her as one of the foremost hyperrealist portrait artists of her generation.
Mediums & Techniques
Mediums for Portraiture: Oil & Graphite
Mediums for Botanical art: Acrylic & Colour Pencils
Mediums for Wildlife & Nature Inspired: Oil, Acrylic, Colour Pencils & Graphite
Maria specializes in oil and graphite portraiture, seamlessly merging traditional techniques with modern hyperrealism. Each commission is crafted with precision, from the first sketch to the final brushstroke. Her layered approach ensures that each painting has lifelike depth, subtle tonal transitions, and a rich interplay of light and shadow, bringing every subject vividly to life.
Art Commissions & Global Reach
Maria welcomes commissions from private collectors and institutions worldwide. With a personalized approach, she works closely with clients to create portraits that are not only visually stunning but deeply meaningful. From Europe to the USA and the Middle East, her art resonates with those seeking exquisite, timeless fine art.
Experience the Art
Explore Maria Abeyesekere’s portfolio of hyperrealism portraits and fine art paintings. Each piece reflects her technical mastery, layered painting process, and artistic vision. Contact Maria today to commission your own bespoke portrait or to buy her originals
Selected Events 2025
-
The Face, The Figure 2025 -Las Laguna Gallery, CA
-
Art Expo NewYork
-
Botanical Art Worldwide, India - Country representation (Invitational)
Past Events
-
Linkedin Women of the World 2024 - Tribeca, NYC fr. 20th to 25th Aug. 2024
-
Association of Animal Artists, Autumn Exhibition, UK from 11th to 24th Nov. 24
-
Association of Animal Artists, Annual Charity Art Auction, UK 1st Aug. to 31st Aug. 2024
-
Association of Animal Artists, online Exhibition, fr. 24th Jun to 14th July 2024
-
Association of Animal Artists, Spring Exhibition, Paterson Gallery, UK fr. 29th Mar. to Apr.'24
-
Association of Animal Artists, Autumn Exhibition, The Station, Richmond fr. 19th Nov. to 5th Dec. 2023
-
Faraway Places, las Laguna Gallery, USA 2022
-
National Oil and Acrylic Society online Assoicate Member Exhibition 2021
-
Dubai Art Expo 2021 - country representation (invitational)
-
15 Solo and group private shows (invitationals) fr. 2004 to 2021
-
Juried Art Exhibition, Christian Youth International, Colombo 1990
Prizes 2025 (upcoming)
-
International Prize “POSEIDON - the king of Laguna- for the Arts at Venice @ Scuola Grande di San Teodoro, Venice on November 29th 2025
-
International Artists of the French Riviera Prize @ Musée National du Sport, Nice, France on September 12, 2025
Awards
-
Best Young Artist, Colombo 1990
-
Honourable Mention, Animal 2021 - Art Show International
-
Honourable Mention, Lanndscape 2022 - Art Show International
-
Finalist, Portrait 2022 - Art Show International
Features 2025
Upcoming:
-
Master Artists to Collect” Vol. V – 2025
-
catalog “International Prize Poseidon for Arts
-
Catalogue of the International Prize Artists on the French Riviera
-
Master Artists to Collect Artbook |Issue 3 |2025
-
Fine art Connoiseur magazine - Sept./Oct. 2025
Earlier:
-
Masterful Minds Magazine - Artists to Watch in 2025 #8
-
Artist Talk Magazine #36
-
The Indian Express
-
Catalogue IBAS
Past Memberships:
National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society, USA
Association of Animal Artists, UK
Notable local collections:
Ian and Roslin Goonetilleke Collection, Largest private art collection in Sri Lanka owned by prominent scholar and art collector, Ian Goonetilleke, donated 90% of his collection to the University of Peradeniya before his death in 2003.
While experimenting with a multitude of subject matter especially botanical, wildlife and nature inspired art with oils, acrylics and pencils, keeping her art rooted in the realistic style she cherishes, Maria has recently delved into a series of hyperrealism & photorealistic portrait paintings, reflecting a sentiment of nostalgia from her childhood.
Artist's Story
"I want to share a little bit about myself and my journey as an artist. I am not just an artist, but also a keen observer who finds joy in staring at the stars and the rain. Ever since I was a young child, I had a wild imagination. I would wake up before dawn and eagerly wait under an elephant ear in my garden, convinced that fairies were painting the flowers and dwarfs were tending to them. Little did I know that those magical moments would inspire me to become the artist I am today. My dad's bedtime stories fueled my imagination and sparked my love for art. I truly believe that observation and patience are key ingredients to mastering realism in my work. Being a self-taught artist, I have honed my skills through practice and dedication.
I come from a lineage of talented artists, with my paternal grandma and her mother having a knack for creativity. Art runs through my veins and has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. From a young age, I found myself captivated by the beauty and history surrounding the ancient artifacts and paintings that have been passed down through generations in my family. The stories and emotions that were captured in each brushstroke and carving spoke to me in a way that words never could.
I was born (1970) and bred in the bustling city, but some of the fondest memories of my childhood were spent in the peaceful embrace of my grandma's country home. The sights, sounds, and smells of the countryside ignited a creative spark within me that would eventually guide me on my artistic path.
I was inspired by the radiant sunsets at the beach, the diverse wildlife that roamed the land, the earthy scents of burning clay and Copra from the nearby mills, and the refreshing breeze that whispered through the coconut groves and paddy fields along the Northwestern coast of the island.
As a young adult and working woman in the city, life was fast-paced and exciting. However, everything changed when I married and settled in the highlands, with my husband and son. Surrounded by lush tea lands and abundant wildlife, I found a new sense of peace, serenity, and inspiration that fueled my passion for art like never before.
It was in the highlands that I truly began my artistic journey, dedicating myself full-time to creating pieces that reflected the beauty, majesty, and wonder of the world around me. Every stroke of the brush, every swirl of color, and every intricate detail in my artwork is a testament to the adventure and exploration that has shaped my life and my art and I thank the Heavenly Father for blessing me with this talent." - Maria