Grace Wickremasinghe isn’t easy to summarise, and that’s precisely the point. A multidisciplinary powerhouse with roots in law, forensic science, gender studies, poetry, and digital strategy, she’s carved a space for herself in Sri Lanka’s creative and cultural landscape with disarming honesty and bold imagination.
As the founder and creative lead of House of Grace, she has built more than a brand; she’s nurtured a movement. Whether it’s curating Sri Lanka’s longest-running open mic night, launching speed dating mixers with a twist, or shaping the digital voice of entrepreneurs and collectives, her work is both deeply intentional and joyfully chaotic.
At just 20, she became the youngest writer shortlisted for the Gratiaen Prize, and her poetry collections, ‘Perception’, ‘Closure’, and ‘Not Your Baby’, cemented her voice as one that cuts through noise with clarity and vulnerability. But poetry is just one page of her story. Grace has taken stages across New York, London, Bangkok, and Melbourne, blending performance art with quiet resistance and radiant authenticity.
Through House of Grace, she creates spaces that reject pretence and celebrate community, where connection, creativity, and chaos are all welcome. Whether she’s consulting on a brand’s digital direction or hosting a homecoming that feels more like a family reunion, Grace moves with purpose. Her events don’t just happen; they pulse, they live.
What ties her all together is her unwavering commitment to creating spaces that feel like home, especially for those still searching. In conversation with The Daily Morning Brunch , Grace shared how she’s building a legacy that is soft, radical, and unapologetically hers.
Following are excerpts from the interview:
What inspired you to start House of Grace and how did your background in diverse disciplines shape its creation?
House of Grace started as a selfish daydream to create spaces in Sri Lanka that I wanted to see flourish and thrive. I was searching for a place that felt like home, so I created one.
I wanted to build something that felt like a soft rebellion, something tender, but fierce. And my background? A mix of poetry, law, and social media strategy. It all came together naturally. Plus, my community crew was the first to show up, hype me up, and remind me why it mattered, even on days when nothing seemed to be going my way.
You’ve worn many hats: Poet, curator, consultant, and academic. How do you decide which part of yourself takes the lead in a new project?
Usually, I follow the energy of the room or the client’s requirements. Sometimes a project needs full poet or creativity mode; other times, it’s about calculated risks as an entrepreneur. But I’m never choosing alone. I bounce ideas off my people, get honest feedback, and lean into collaboration. My community helps me stay grounded and playful at the same time. You never know what skill will come in handy and when.
House of Grace is known for pushing boundaries when it comes to creative events. What has been your most unconventional or memorable event to date, and why?
I’m honoured to say that we’ve had quite a few great events, and sometimes it’s not even the event itself that’s most memorable, but the moments leading up to or after, whether we’re at Galle Face Green, Plaza, my birthday pool party, or celebrating Christmas at home. But if I really had to pick one, it would be our 10-year anniversary celebration last November, marking a decade of artists coming together, performing, and supporting each other.
You’ve performed around the world in places as varied as New Delhi, Boston, New York, London, and Bangkok. How do these international stages compare to performing back home in Sri Lanka?
Performing abroad is always exciting. You meet so many kinds of audiences. I love connecting with like-minded individuals and sharing experiences and ideas, but nothing beats home. There’s this unspoken language between performer and audience here. Plus, when your friends are in the front row mouthing your lines or sending heart eyes from the back, it hits different.
As Sri Lanka’s longest-running open mic night founder, what have you observed about the way the local creative scene has evolved over the years?
It’s grown up, glowed up, and keeps you on your toes. What started as a small courtyard room full of nervous first-timers has become this buzzing, supportive scene. I’ve watched people come in shy, and now they’re headlining shows, even internationally, performing at weddings, running collectives, and teaching workshops. It’s been such a joy to grow alongside them. I feel like a proud mom.
You’ve helped build homecomings, dating mixers, entrepreneur networking events, and writing workshops. What drives your interest in creating spaces for connection?
I’m obsessed with witnessing people connect, whether through words, dance, food, or flirtation. A lot of this comes from growing up wanting spaces that didn’t exist yet. Now I build them with people who believe in those authentic connections and joy as much as I do. And I would say my community is the heartbeat behind all of it. None of this would have been possible without them.
You’ve consulted on creative direction and social media for various brands. What’s one common mistake you see brands making online today?
Trying to be everything to everyone, or copying what’s trending without knowing who they really are. The brands that win online are the ones with authenticity, personality, and consistency.
With such a dynamic portfolio already behind you, what’s next for you and House of Grace this year?
We’re playing with new formats, so maybe a podcast or a traveling pop-up. On top of that, we’re focusing on some consultancy projects. We’re also slowly building a digital archive to honour all the messy, magical moments we’ve had and working on the relaunch of our website. More than anything, we’re slowing down and creating with intention. My small team and I are in our ‘soft but strategic’ era and I love that for us.
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