Born in Deniyaha, Somapala Pothupitiya now lives and works in Korathota and Colombo, Sri Lanka. A thoughtful and subtly political artist, Pothupitiya has established himself as a vital exponent of the ’90s trend’ Sri Lankan art. He confronts the compelling political issues raised by the war in Sri Lanka and explores questions like caste, distinction between art and craft, tradition and modernity in his works. Coming from a background of traditional craft artists and ritual specialists, he incorporates and reinterprets certain material and philosophical contents of traditional art in his work.

He earned his BFA in Sculpture from the Institute of Aesthetic Studies, University of Kelaniya, Colombo. Subsequently, he trained in and studied traditional Pakistani sewing techniques and metalwork methods with craftspeople in Lahore. He also attended a training programme in making Pakistan’s traditional jewellery at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan.