KALĀ x UVAP
In its second edition, KALĀ amplifies Sri Lankan art on the global stage, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of UVPA Colombo. Showcasing the legacy of Sri Lanka’s pioneering Heywood Masters alongside contemporary responses and through the KALĀ COMMUNE residency programme, we foster cross-border collaborations and meaningful cultural exchange, driving creative change across the region. KALĀ COMMUNE, the South Asian Residency, in collaboration with the University of Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA) Colombo, celebrates the institution’s 75th anniversary. Aligned with KALĀ’s goal of engaging with the South Asian arts community and fostering the local arts ecosystem, KALĀ COMMUNE, a South Asian residency program inviting regional practitioners to Sri Lanka, will also take place at the University of Visual and Performing Arts. The residency will conclude with the first open studio at the university alongside the KALĀ COMMUNE Open Studio Exhibition. The Open Studio Exhibition will feature Artists-in-Residence: Ahmed Rasel (Bangladesh), Chandra Bhattacharjee (India), Pankaj Panwar (India), Ahmed Javed (Pakistan), Seema Sharma Shah (Nepal), Rinoshan Susiman (Sri Lanka) and Hema Shironi (Sri Lanka).
Seven artists from across the region collaborate with Sri Lanka’s oldest art institution during this residency. Participants will engage in open studios, workshops, and projects, fostering cultural immersion and the exchange of artistic practices.
KALĀ COMMUNE is an immersive South Asian Residency Open Studios & Exhibition. The residency programme runs over 4 weeks at the University of Visual & Performing Arts Colombo. Seven artists to share their experience and practice and help deepen our commitment through collaboration, pedagogy, and meaningful engagement.
KALĀ exhibitions have been curated under the guidance of our Curatorial Advisor Sandhini Poddar (Adjunct Curator at Large, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project).
PIVOT GLIDE ECHO
In 2024, PIVOT GLIDE ECHO unfolded as an intergenerational dialogue across eight decades with Lionel Wendt serving as a catalyst. It continues from its first iteration, evolving into an aspiration to trace different strands in artistic imagination that shape Sri Lankan art history.
Guided by a similar ethos, this edition expands on an engagement with experimental image-making, while situating the history of visual art in the cultural and socio-political moment of its creation. With the University of Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA), Colombo at its epicentre, the exhibition examines the practice of its luminaries, featuring artworks by Ena de Silva, H.A. Karunaratne, David Paynter, Pala Pothupitiya, Tissa Ranasinghe, Jagath Ravindra, Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan, Chandraguptha Thenuwara, Tilak Samarawickrema, Priyantha Udagedara, Dominic Sansoni, Laki Senanayake, and Jagath Weerasinghe.
PIVOT GLIDE ECHO‘s second edition explores Sri Lanka’s rich artistic heritage, connecting modern and contemporary voices to honour shared themes and histories. The second edition of PIVOT GLIDE ECHO is supported by The Rukmini Tissanayagam Trust.
PIVOT GLIDE ECHO’s second edition delves deeper into the narratives of Sri Lankan art, highlighting the shared themes, social concerns, and creative explorations that connect the works of modern and contemporary artists, honouring the profound influence of these pioneers on the country’s art history and to the artistic heritage of the region.
Celebrating Sri Lanka’s vibrant artistic legacy and its ongoing influence in the South Asian art scene at the Heywood Gallery at the Faculty of Visual Arts. This exhibition is supported by The Rukmini Tissanayagam Trust.
Featured Artists:
J.D.A. Perera | David Paynter | Stanley Abeysinghe | H.A. Karunaratne | Tissa Ranasinghe | Chandraguptha Thenuwara | Dominic Sansoni | Ena De Silva | Jagath Ravindra | Jagath Weerasinghe | Laki Senanayake | Pala Pothupitiye | Priyantha Udagedara | Tilak Samarawickrema | T.Shanaathanan
KALĀ 2025 is proud to collaborate with esteemed organisations to enrich its programming, including Art South Asia Project (ASAP). ASAP, a UK-based arts education and development non-profit, is committed to creating initiatives that serve South Asia and its diasporas. Following the success of last year’s KALĀ x ASAP series of talks and workshops, we are delighted to partner with them once again for the second edition of KALĀ.
The 2025 KALĀ x ASAP programme includes public talks and private workshops that highlight the vital relationships artists build within the art ecosystem—whether with patrons, commercial galleries, or through their own peers. This series aims to provide invaluable insights and specialised perspectives for the artistic community in Sri Lanka and beyond. KALĀ x ASAP programming is supported by
Faizal & Shabana Foundation and QissaGoi.
Asia Society is a global non-profit institution, headquartered in the US, with a network of centres across the world. With a focus on creating a deeper understanding of Asia for global audiences, and building networks and connections between Asia and the world, Asia Society curates strategic initiatives and programmes across the arts, business, policy, geopolitics, health, technology and education.
Established in 2006, the India Centre is committed to spotlighting South Asia through its work, focusing on the collective and individual histories of the region; contemporary challenges affecting society; and the trends and ideas that will shape the subcontinent’s future. Within the arts, the organisation has a long-standing commitment to promoting public engagement with culture, supporting artistic excellence and creative leadership, developing cross-border networks between individuals and cultural institutions, and building awareness about contemporary and vernacular artistic traditions in South Asia.
In its second edition KALĀ expands its reach through the South Asian residency programme KALĀ COMMUNE, led by Assistant Curator Mandira Ranathunga and Programming Advisor Good Life X, deepening our commitment to collaboration, pedagogy, and meaningful engagement by bringing together seven practitioners within the region, nurturing emerging talent and fostering cross-border connections.
GOOD LIFE X, a catalyst in regenerative futures, will shape the residency programme and public events. Drawing on their local expertise and industry insights, they will collaborate with KALĀ as advisors to ensure the programming reflects both the Sri Lankan context and wider South Asian perspectives.
The 2025 KALĀ x ASAP programme includes public talks and private workshops that highlight the vital relationships artists build within the art ecosystem—whether with patrons, commercial galleries, or through their own peers. This series aims to provide invaluable insights and specialised perspectives for the artistic community in Sri Lanka and beyond. KALĀ x ASAP programming is supported by
Faizal & Shabana Foundation and QissaGoi.
2025 Artists
2025 Stories
2025 Team
Saskia Fernando
Michele Thurairaja
Mandira Ranathunga
Mariyam Begum
Sulakshi Ratnayake
2025 Partners
SHARED GROUND: SOUTH ASIA IN CONVERSATION
An exhibition unfolding through presence, movement, and time spent, bringing together voices and practices from across South Asia.
Open to the public this week
⏰ 10 AM to 6 PM
📍 Udayshanth and Angelika Fernando Foundation
138 Galle Road, Colombo 03
Participating artists:
@ahmedrasel_photo — Ahmed Rasel (Bangladesh)
@island.cultures — Eagan Badeeu (Maldives)
@farhat3893242 — Farhat Ali (Pakistan)
@ifiri — Firi Rahman (Sri Lanka)
@gopatrivedi — Gopa Trivedi (India)
@hamra_abbas — Khadim Ali Vibha
@kishwarkiani — Kishwar Kiani (Pakistan)
@h11235 — Kiran Maharjan (Nepal)
@namgayrockets — Phurba Namgay (Bhutan)
@tashi313 — Tashi Lama (Nepal)
@vibhagalhotra — Vibha Galhotra (India)
@mariegnanaraj — Marie Gnanaraja (Sri Lanka)
—
@takeonart @saskiafernandogallery @authenticitiessrilanka @dreamteamstudio
‘Shared Ground: South Asia in Conversation’ unfolds as a meeting of practices that approach South Asia not as a fixed idea, but as lived, material, and relational. Bringing together painting, drawing, textile, and installation, the exhibition traces how matter carries memory—of labour, belief, rupture, care, and repair.
Presented by TAKE on Art magazine in collaboration with KALĀ South Asia, the exhibition places Colombo within an active regional circuit shaped by ongoing acts of making. Rather than offering resolution, Shared Ground invites attention and proximity—an ongoing conversation grounded in shared presence.
📍 Udayshanth and Angelika Fernando Foundation, Level 3, 138 Galle Road, Colombo 3
🗓 18-30 January 2026
⏰10 AM – 6 PM
Participating artists:
@ahmedrasel_photo — Ahmed Rasel (Bangladesh)
@island.cultures — Eagan Badeeu (Maldives)
@farhat3893242 — Farhat Ali (Pakistan)
@ifiri — Firi Rahman (Sri Lanka)
@gopatrivedi — Gopa Trivedi (India)
@hamra_abbas — Khadim Ali Vibha
@kishwarkiani — Kishwar Kiani (Pakistan)
@h11235 — Kiran Maharjan (Nepal)
@namgayrockets — Phurba Namgay (Bhutan)
@tashi313 — Tashi Lama (Nepal)
@vibhagalhotra — Vibha Galhotra (India)
@mariegnanaraj — Marie Gnanaraja (Sri Lanka)
—
@takeonart @saskiafernandogallery @authenticitiessrilanka @dreamteamstudio_events @barefootgallery @dailymirrorlk @daily_ft @lankadeepa @sundaytimes @hi_online_lk @ilotcolombo @peterharrisdoornberg1712 @latitude_28 @modiglianigallery @bhavz15 @dilpreet_bhullar_026 @dutt.tanya @hamra_abbas @rennaisancegirl @anne_indira @artistkailash @mariegnanaraj
@mayankmansinghkaul @pradeepthalawatta @puja_vaish @pujangandhi72 @richikbhatia
We are pleased to announce that Cité Internationales des Arts, in collaboration with Institut Français, has selected Lojithan Ram for the artist-in-residence program to research and develop a creative project in Paris 🇫🇷 for a period of three months.
The Cité internationale des arts, the world’s largest arts residence, has been bringing together more than 300 artists of all origins and generations in the heart of Paris since 1965, giving them the opportunity to carry out a creative or research project in all disciplines.
This residency is supported by the collaborative efforts of KALĀ South Asia, French Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Maldives (@franceincolombo) and l’Institut Français (@if_officiel)
Congratulations Lojithan!
Opening Tomorrow.
Sign up on Link in bio. Limited seats left for opening weekend events.
@takeonart
@saskiafernandogallery
@authenticitiessrilanka
@dreamteamstudio_events
@barefootgallery
@dailymirrorlk
@daily_ft
@lankadeepa
@sundaytimes
@hi_online_lk
@ilotcolombo
@hnbsrilanka
@peterharrisdoornberg1712
@latitude_28
@modiglianigallery
@sisiliprojectsconsortium
@ifilm_srilanka
@bhavz15
@dilpreet_bhullar_026
@dutt.tanya
@ahmedrasel_photo
@island.cultures
@farhat3893242
@ifiri
@gopatrivedi
@hamra_abbas
@rennaisancegirl
@anne_indira
@artistkailash
@khadim96
@h11235
@kishwarkiani
@mariegnanaraj
@mayankmansinghkaul
@namgayrockets
@pradeepthalawatta
@puja_vaish
@pujangandhi72
@richikbhatia
@tashi313
@vibhagalhotra
KALĀ | TAKE on Art 2026
PANEL 2 | CARRIERS OF CREATIVE FORCE
18 January 2026 | 3.30 PM
What gives material its power to endure, travel, and transform?
This panel brings together perspectives from textiles, collecting, and public art to explore how materiality, memory, and place shape contemporary creative force in South Asia and its diasporas.
Carriers of Creative Force reflects on objects as vessels — holding histories, identities, and transnational exchanges — and examines how creativity moves between makers, collectors, communities, and public space to activate shared cultural meaning.
Panelists: Vibha Galhotra (@vibhagalhotra), Mayank Mansingh Kaul (@mayankmansinghkaul), Kailash K Shrestha (@artistkailash), Indira Kithsiri (@anne_indira), Firi Rahman (@ifiri)
Moderated by Pujan Gandhi (@pujangandhi72)
Registrations open
(Link in bio)
@takeonart
@saskiafernandogallery
@authenticitiessrilanka
@dreamteamstudio_events
@barefootgallery
@dailymirrorlk
@daily_ft
@lankadeepa
@sundaytimes
@hi_online_lk
@ilotcolombo
@hnbsrilanka
@peterharrisdoornberg1712
@latitude_28
@modiglianigallery
@sisiliprojectsconsortium
@ifilm_srilanka
@bhavz15
@dilpreet_bhullar_026
@dutt.tanya
@ahmedrasel_photo
@island.cultures
@farhat3893242
@ifiri
@gopatrivedi
@hamra_abbas
@rennaisancegirl
@anne_indira
@artistkailash
@khadim96
@h11235
@kishwarkiani
@mariegnanaraj
@mayankmansinghkaul
@namgayrockets
@pradeepthalawatta
@puja_vaish
@pujangandhi72
@richikbhatia
@tashi313
@vibhagalhotra
