Sri Lanka, the ‘pearl of the Indian Ocean’, has a distinctive art scene and bustling cultural life. The capital Colombo is home to the annual Colombo Art Biennale and the Kala Pola festival, making it one of the liveliest cultural destinations in South East Asia. Here are the ten best places to discover Sri Lanka’s growing contemporary art scene, from Colombo to Galle and beyond.
Barefoot Gallery
The Barefoot Gallery has existed under several guises, known as the Colombo Gallery from 1967 to 1972, then reopening in 1991 as Gallery 706 Colombo, and finally adopting its current name in 1999. It is now one of the most dynamic galleries in Sri Lanka, and home to art exhibitions featuring local and international artists, installations, concerts, poetry readings, performances and film nights. With its ever-changing roster of exhibitions, it has remained an influential member of the city’s art scene and continues to champion the avant-garde and cultivate the city’s artistic talent. The space also includes a bookshop, boutique and café – the meeting place for Colombo’s hip, creative types.
Barefoot Gallery, 704 Galle Road, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka,
Barefoot Gallery
Sapumal Foundation
The Sapumal Foundation, situated in the elegant district of Cinnamon Gardens, is an art gallery with a remarkable heritage. It was founded in 1974 by the late Harry Pieris, one of the core members of the acclaimed 43 Group, and is located in what used to be his home. The core collection is made up of over 200 works that trace the country’s artistic development from the 1920s up until the present day. The collection features the best examples of work created by the founding members of the 43 Group, including those of Harry Pieris, Richard Gabriel, Ivan Peries and Justin Daraniyagala, as well as many other notable Sri Lankan artists. Remarkably, Harry Pieris’s studio and living spaces have been left untouched, and the walls are filled with artworks.
Sapumal Foundation, 32/4 Barnes Place, Colombo, Sri Lanka,
Sapumal Foundation
Red Dot Gallery
Located in Sri Jayawardena Pura Kotte, a suburb that is often called the new capital of Sri Lanka, the Red Dot Gallery displays the most experimental and innovative art in the country. Opened in 2007, the gallery is run by the Theertha International Artists Collective, an independent non-profit organisation that facilitates the innovation, exchange and dialogue of the local arts community. To that end, the gallery focuses on contemporary artists working in the post-1990s Trend arena. Sheltered within the Theertha office, Red Dot hosts a solid variety of group and solo exhibitions, as well as an ambitious international residency programme.
Red Dot Gallery, 39/4A D.S. Senanayake Mawatha, Borella, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka,
Art Way Gallery
Located in the suburb of Nugegoda, in a striking colonial manor house known as a ‘Walauwa’, you will find one of Sri Lanka’s most impressive and exciting art spaces. Since its opening in 2009 by artists Sudath Abeysekara and Achala Gunawardene, Art Way Gallery has worked to showcase the diversity of Sri Lankan contemporary and traditional art, from abstract art and installations to still life, portraits, sculpture, and everything in between. Locally, the gallery provides workshops and classes at its in-house institute, training budding artists of all ages. Internationally, it has promoted Sri Lankan art by organising exhibitions and workshops in institutions across the world.
Art Way Gallery, No.66 Old Kesbewa Road, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka,
© Art Way
Hempel Galleries
This commercial operation has two galleries, one at Barnes Place in Colombo and another in Galle Fort. Since its launch in 2010, Hempel has played an active part in the development of Sri Lankan arts, both at home and abroad, through its presence at international festivals and through founder Annoushka Hempel’s organisational role at the Colombo Art Biennale. The galleries host the work of the nation’s most prominent artists, as well as undiscovered talent, representing artists such as Anoli Perera, Pradeep Chandrasiri and Cora De Lang. The main space at Barnes Place hosts regular exhibitions, whereas the Galle Fort apartment is a small but welcoming affair.
Hempel Galleries, 30/3 Barnes Place, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka, and 6 Pedlar Street, Galle Fort, Sri Lanka
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