Artist Bio – Tania Thenabadu

Tania Thenabadu is of Sri Lankan heritage and has lived in the United States, France, Denmark, Australia and Singapore since the age of eighteen. Growing up in Sri Lanka and later living in culturally diverse cities, including Paris, has profoundly shaped her artistic perspective and visual language. She comes from a family of artists; both of her aunts are professional painters who have mentored and inspired her artistic development over many years.

Before pursuing her artistic career, Tania completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Wellesley College in 1991 as an International Scholar, followed by a Master of International Affairs at Columbia University in 1993 on a Presidential Scholarship. She subsequently built an international career with IBM across Europe, Australia and the United States before dedicating herself more fully to her artistic practice. She is trilingual in English, French and Sinhalese.

Tania's artistic practice began in Singapore in 2012 under the guidance of Cora Waterhouse, where she developed a strong foundation in drawing through the study of form, still life and tonal techniques. Over six years she refined her skills in acrylics and pastels before returning to Australia in 2018. Since then, she has established an active exhibiting practice, exhibiting regularly and selling work to private collectors internationally. She now works primarily in acrylics and pastels and continues to attend workshops and classes to further develop her practice.

Drawing on her Sri Lankan heritage and the experience of living across multiple cultures, Tania's work explores colour, place, memory and human connection. Her paintings reflect both observation and lived experience, combining technical discipline with an expressive use of colour and light. Through ongoing study and international artist residencies, she continues to expand and refine her artistic voice.