It was Pablo Picasso who once said, “Painting is just another way of keeping a diary” and on a tour of Colombo’s art galleries you do get a chance to peruse some truly fascinating diaries as it were! Sri Lanka’s commercial capital may not be renowned for its art scene, but the city does indeed have an eclectic collection of art galleries where one can browse and even buy unique works of art. Many of the city’s art galleries are within easy reach of each other so staying at a centrally located Colombo city hotel is a great choice and The Steuart by Citrus is one option worth considering.
Where to begin? The National Art Gallery is a good starting point though it does not have a definitive collection of Sri Lankan art. This venue near the Lotus Pond (Nelum Pokuna) performance venue has both a permanent collection as well as a space for temporary exhibitions that showcase works by local artists. An interesting point to note is that in and around the area of the National Art Gallery, at the fringes of the Viharamahadevi Park, you will find artists on the pavement selling their creations. Browse around, you never know what “treasures” you may come across.
A place not many people may know about is the Sapumal Foundation. Once the home of artist Harry Pieris, this quaint art space is a literal treasure-trove of paintings and other creations that can be found around the house. Exploring it is part of the fun as you wander along rooms taking in the works of artistic talent. If you are looking for up and coming artists and viewing their work then look to stop by at the Saskia Fernando Gallery. This dedicated gallery space not only features paintings by Sri Lankan artists, but sculptures too each well labelled.
No list of Colombo’s art galleries is complete without mentioning what have become two stalwarts of the city’s art scene; Barefoot Gallery and Paradise Road Gallery Cafe. One of the most popular venues for hosting art exhibitions, Barefoot Gallery has for long been a place where artists and art lovers have gravitated to. The exhibitions are eclectic to say the least and everything from paintings to posters and photographs to portraits provide a rewarding gallery experience. Once the office of renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, the Paradise Road Gallery Cafe also showcases local artists in a venue that is characteristic of the design style of it former resident. Both these galleries also have a cafe / restaurant attached to them so they are wonderful places to enjoy a relaxed coffee or meal with friends too.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
