Beyond the Walls: How Galleries Develop Artistic Careers
Talk by:Charlie Moore Grosvenor Gallery & Anahita Taneja Director Shrine Empire

The Role of Artists in the Commercial Gallery System and Their Representation

Nurturing Artistic Journeys through Residencies: Opportunities for Developing Practice

Raki Nikahetiya, Co-Founder of sā Ladakh
and Rosa Tyhurst, Curator at Gasworks, London, to learn about the opportunities that residencies can provide for expanding an artists research and practice.

On the heels of the Asia Arts Game Changer Awards in Delhi, we’re delighted to have 2025 Asia Arts Future awardee Karachi LaJamia deliver a special artist talk in Colombo in February. Karachi LaJamia is a Pakistani artist duo founded by Shahana Rajani (@shanzroll) and Zahra Malkani (@zahrammm) in 2015. Over the years, they’ve created a nomadic space moving outside the institution to explore new radical pedagogies and art practices. And they experiment with a range of research and pedagogical methods, having showcased their work in Karachi and outside.

The artist talk will offer an introduction to the interdisciplinary practice of Karachi LaJamia, their interest in experimental research and pedagogy, and the work they do in foregrounding the lives of indigenous communities in Karachi for wider audiences. The presentation will be followed by a moderated discussion.

Artist to Artist: Crafting Narratives and Community in South Asia

Hema Shironi in conversation with Munem Wasif, exploring their shared and disparate practices in building narratives through materiality and navigating community relationships in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Shared Visions: How Institutions and Artists Work Together

Talk by:Meneesha Kellay, Senior Curator, Contemporary
at Victoria and Albert Museum and & Iaroslav Volovod, Curator, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi explore how artists and institutions collaborate to forge creative partnerships that shape the future of art.

By bringing both the design and craft perspectives into the discussion, we aim to inspire students to explore how collaboration can transform traditional materials into contemporary design statements.Presentation by Laura & Kasun ILOT

With a focus on his multidisciplinary approach and exploration of the contemporary Sri Lankan landscape, artist Chandraguptha Thenuwara will share insights into his creative pursuits and the social contexts that influence his practice.

A conversation on the evolution of the Barefoot Gallery – from its beginnings as the Colombo Gallery to Gallery 706, and now the Barefoot Gallery.

Asia Society India Centre presents
a one-on-one conversation between art collectors Jaiveer Johal (from Chennai, India) and Dr. Furqaan Ahmed (from Karachi, Pakistan), both part of the Asia Society family. The speakers will talk about their collecting journeys, sharing anecdotes about special artworks in their collections and what keeps them committed to patronage in and for South Asia. The programme will give audiences an insight into the role of collectors and patrons in expanding the scope of South Asian contemporary art in the region and around the world.