Meet the artist

Ama Liyanage is a self-taught watercolour artist and printmaker crafting whimsical paintings from her home studio in Kitchener, ON. She draws inspiration from cherished childhood memories in Sri Lanka and the simple, often overlooked joys of everyday life.

Having nurtured a fondness for jigsaw puzzles since her early years, Ama revels in the intricacies and hidden nuances that sometimes link her paintings together. She takes great pleasure in the thought of perceptive observers discovering the minuscule painted details in her artwork, each one narrating a story or invoking a touch of humor.

She embarked on an exploration of rediscovering creativity in adulthood and the transformative journey of embracing art as a vocation. This journey began with a reflection on the power of relaxation, a departure from the years spent wrestling with the notion of self-worth tethered solely to productivity. Through her canvases, Ama proudly amplifies the voices of women of colour, reclaiming spaces historically devoid of their representation.

A surprising yet profoundly meaningful aspect of her artistic journey has been the connections she's forged within the lively art community of Kitchener-Waterloo, as well as her deepening affinity for the city itself.

Contact me

CV

AWARDS

2022 - 1st Prize Award at the Annual Juried Art Show  (Homer Watson House and Gallery)

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

2024 - Untapped Emerging Artist Section, The Artist Project - Toronto, ON

PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS

2024 - Restoration - Necessary Arts Gallery, Guelph, ON

2023 - Juried Art Show - Homer Watson House and Gallery, Waterloo, ON

2023 - Hoop-la Exhibition - Necessary Arts Collective Gallery, Guelph, ON

2023 - Women at Leisure - Necessary Arts Gallery, Guelph, ON

2023 - Press Annual Juried Print Exhibition - Button Factory Arts, Kitchener, ON

2023 - Cézanne’s Closet - Union Gallery, Kingston, ON

2022 - Juried Art Show - Homer Watson House and Gallery, Waterloo, ON

2022 - Annual Juried Exhibition - Button Factory Arts, Kitchener, ON

2022 - Press Annual Juried Print Exhibition - Button Factory Arts, Kitchener, ON

2022 - BFA Members Show - Button Factory Arts, Kitchener, ON

2022 - Art Market Exhibit - Visitor Information Centre, Kitchener, ON

2022 - Hoop-la Exhibition - Necessary Arts Collective Gallery, Guelph, ON

2021 - Annual Juried Exhibition - Button Factory Arts, Kitchener, ON

2021 - Hoop-la Exhibition - Necessary Arts Collective Gallery, Guelph, ON

2021 - Mother Complex - Button Factory Arts, Kitchener, ON

2021 - Press Annual Juried Print Exhibition - Button Factory Arts, Kitchener, ON

PROJECTS

2022 - The Beasting - A blind art collaboration involving local artists produced by
the City of Kitchener in partnership with My Pet Skeleton.