Exhibitions & Media
Permanent Collection
Museum of Beadwork, Portland, Maine, USA
The Henry Ford’s Glass Collection, Michigan, USA
Museum of Arts and Design, New York, USA
Selected Exhibitions (since 2000)
2025 | “Wonders of the Garden”, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2025 | Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, London, UK
2025 | “MASSArt Auction” (Massachusetts College of Art and Design), Massachusetts, USA
2024 | “Holiday Tea”, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2024 | “A Novel Tea”, Museum of Beadwork, Portland, Maine, USA
2023 | Legacy of Jack Lenor Larsen, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2023 | Heirlooms of the Future II, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2022 | Wings and Stings, Museum of Beadwork, Portland, Maine, USA
2022 | Reclaimed, Ruup and Form, London, UK
2021| Craft Council of BC – Earring show”, CCBC Gallery, Vancouver
2020 | Ornamentation in the age of Corona – MASKS phase two”, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2018 | MAD Collects: The Future of Craft Part 1, Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), New York, USA
2017 | World on a String , Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2016, 17, 19 | Glass Auction and Gala, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, USA
2012 | Glass Jewellery Exhibit, Mostly Glass Gallery, New Jersey, USA
2012 | Bead Invitational, Pismo Gallery, Denver, Colorado, USA
2011 | Through the Looking Glass, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver
2010 | Beyond Glass Galerie Elena Lee, Montreal
2007, 08, 09, 10 | SOFA (Sculpture Objects & Functional Art), New York, USA
2007, 08, 09, 10 | SOFA (Sculpture Objects & Functional Art), Chicago, USA
2004 |TEXTiles, Ferry Building Gallery, West Vancouver “Eastern Expressions”, Craft House, Vancouver
2004 | Bead Dreams 2004, Bead & Button Magazine, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
2004 | Bead International 2004, Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center, Athens, Ohio, USA (Traveling exhibition to 2006)
2003/04 | Canadian Handmade Products, Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan
2003 | Between the Narrows, North Vancouver Arts Council, North Vancouver
2002 | Convergence 2002, Hand Weavers Guild of America, Vancouver
2001 | Origins, University Womens Club (Hycroft), Vancouver
2000 | Solo Bead Exhibition, Foyer Gallery, Squamish
Publications
2025 | Made by Hand 2025
Work featured in a Digital Lookbook, published by Craft Council of BC. View Lookbook
2025 | Craft and Craftivism (work featured in Volume II)
A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Ceramic, Fibre and Glass Artists in Canada, A three volume e-publication by Concordia University, Montreal. View e-publication
2025 | The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka – feature.
2017 | Interview with Glass Roots Inc, New Jersey, USA
Glass Roots ignites and builds the creative and economic vitality of greater Newark through the transformative power of the glass art experience. Click to view the full interview
2016 | Studio Magazine Spring/Summer 2016 – Craft and Design in Canada
Sharmini Wirasekara features her art in the Spring/Summer issue of Studio Magazine. Click here for your own copy
2013 | Showcase 500 Art Necklaces – Lark books
“Showcase 500 Art Necklaces” by Ray Hay Hemachandra and Chunghi Choo, published by Lark Books, features lovingly crafted pieces from renowned jewellers from around the world, including pieces by Sharmini Wirasekara. To view this book on Amazon. Click here
2008 | Masters: Beadweaving – Lark books
“Masters: Beadweaving: Major Works by Leading Artist” by Carol Wilcox Wells and Ray Hemachandra offers readers a glimpse into the versatility, innovation, and inspiration of master crafters. Interested readers can purchase a copy of this book here.
2005 | Bead Dreams” issue of Bead & Button magazine – Kalmbach Publishing Co
“Sharmini Wirasekara won 1st place in the third annual Bead Dreams competition by Bead and Button for her work “The Maya”. Want your own copy of the magazine? Buy it here.
2005 | Beadful! – Colombo Sunday Times
“The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka featured Sharmini Wirasekara’s beadwork in an article in 2005
2004 | Bead & Button Magazine. Oct 2004, issue 63
The October 2004 of Bead & Button magazine features the winning work of Sharmini Wirasekara. Purchase a copy here.
2004 | Beadwork. Oct/Nov 2004 – Interweave Press
The October/November 2004 issue of Beadwork magazine features the stunning works of art from some of the pieces included in the Dairy Barn Art Center’s Bead International 2004 Competition, where Sharmini’s work was also included.See Full PDF
2004 | 500 Beaded Objects – Lark books
500 Beaded Objects: New Dimensions in Contemporary Beadwork by Carol Wilcox Wells and Terry Krautwurst celebrates the amazing evolution of beadwork from a simple craft to expressive art. Interested readers can get their copy here
2004 | Fiberarts Design Book #7 – Lark books
Fiberarts Design Book #7, edited by Susan Mowery Kieffer features the work of 550 artists from around the world. Interested readers can get their copy here
2004 | Bead and Button Magazine – Kalmbach Publishing Co
In this issue of Bead and Button magazine, Sharmini Wirasekara shares her step by step process of how she makes one of her intricate peices.
1997 | The Best of Silk Painting by Diane Tuckman and Jan Janas – North Light books
This is an eclectic collection of contemporary silk painting, features the work of 77 artists, including Sharmini Wirasekara. Interested readers can by their very own copy here
1995 | Creative Silk Painting by Diane Tuckman and Jan Janas – North Light books
Creative Silk Painting features dozens of inspiring projects and techniques with instruction on easy-to-use new dyes.
1995 | Fiberarts Design Book #5 – Lark Books
Fiberarts Design Book #5 by Jan Janeiro, Jack Lenor Larsen, Ann Batchelder, and Nancy Orban showcases the creations of textile artists working in all fiber and fabric media.
Awards & Honours
2024 | “A Novel Tea – Museum of Beadwork Challenge”, Sculpture – Best of Category Winner
2013 | “London International Creative Competition” (LICC) – Winners Short List
2004 | “Bead Dreams 2004” – Non Wearables Category – 1st Place
2002 | “Convergence 2002” – Honourable Mention