Art Galleries in Colombo
THE 10 BEST Colombo Art Galleries
Art Galleries in Colombo
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- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Speciality & Gift Shops • Art Galleries
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Speciality & Gift Shops • Art Galleries
What travellers are saying
- BTW2 contributionsSo glad I spared the time to visit this delightful home gallery. It’s a short ride away from central Colombo. I took a tuk-tuk via PickMe app – no fuss, no hassle.
I was warmly welcomed at the door by the artist, Mahen, the inimitable, and his charming wife Rachel. Mahen is cerebral and charismatic. Both he and his wife are extremely laid back and affable, making you instantly feel at home in their home.
You can’t help but be drawn in by the incandescent pieces adorning the walls – the glory of Ganesh in all his resplendent forms. Magical and meaningful to me. The walls literally buzz with energy as the canvasses hum and whirr in harmony with nature.
Mahen and Rachel accompanied me throughout the gallery, taking time to explain the paintings, answering my questions and peppering the conversation with informative snippets to make for an engaging visit.
There was no hard sell, nor sales pitch to entice a buy– quite the opposite really.
Thank you, Mahen and Rachel, for welcoming me into your enchanting home, for taking the time to enable me to meet to Ganesh in his many guises, and for inviting me to your table for the scrumptious lunch. I am looking forward to adorning my wall with the radiant Ganesh who hummed in my ear as loudly as his winged friend thrummed in his.
A real treat to visit this place, whether you buy or not, and meet the Talent behind the captivating canvasses.
Tip to visitors: ring beforehand to ensure timings and a more customized visit.Written 1 May 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - DAMITH CHANDANAKandy, Sri Lanka61 contributionsColombo’s street art has a long history with paintings hung on railings, attracting the admiration of tourists as well as customers who buy colourful Sri Lankan scenes (the stilt fishermen of Weligama, village life, and Sigiriya are popular) for their homes or guesthouses. Paintings of all kinds and styles, including abstract and still life, can be seen on most days along one side of the main thoroughfare of Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha.
Colombo’s Street Art Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Holiday Guru
Under the unamused eye of a stately statue of Queen Victoria (sitting on a plinth at a side entrance to the Museum), painters display their wares while commuters rush past in buses and cars. It’s a pleasant walk for pedestrians and a chance to pick up a unique and unusual souvenir of Sri Lanka. Bargaining is expected – but how do you price an original work of art?
For the past quarter of a century, on a Sunday early in the New Year, the John Keells Foundation has sponsored a day-long street art fair so artists from around the country can join the regulars in exhibiting their works of art. The talent on display then is amazing. Some painters will even demonstrate their skill by painting peoples’ portraits as they pose in the shade of trees beside the road.
With the weather usually fine at this time of the year, Colombo’s street art fair becomes a jolly event, with entertainers, snack stalls and the chance to buy a work of art to take home.Written 5 August 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Yashi g1 contributionA wonderful art gallery with a private museum collection of Sri Lankan masterpieces.
Amazing environment filled with absolutely rare collection of Sri Lankan master painters including Laki Senanayake.Written 12 May 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Seevali DColombo, Sri Lanka8,965 contributionsI have been visiting Lionel Wendt Memorial Art Centre for over 20 years. My last visit was on 17th and 19th January 2020 to view two art exhibitions.
The Art Centre is named after photographer and Artist Lionel Wendt. It stands at 18, Guildford Crescent (now named Premasiri Kemadasa Mawatha) in Colombo and is the place where the artist originally built his small house that he made accessible to art lovers.
The theatre for performing arts has over 600 seats and is the premier location in Colombo for both Sinhala and English stage plays, with an occasional one in Tamil. Here at this theatre, I have watched the stage dramas Maname, Sinhabahu and Hunuwataye Kathawa among many others. Though non-alcoholic drinks are available at a little cafeteria, visitors are not permitted to take food or drinks into the theatre. The theatre is air conditioned. It is run-down and a renovation would be much appreciated by patrons.
Photographic and sculpture exhibitions are held at the two art galleries. The one on the ground floor facing the road is the more common one. Here I viewed an exhibition of paintings by four artists on 17th January 2020. On the same day there was another exhibition at the Harold Peiris gallery upstairs displaying wild-life photography. I enjoyed both exhibitions that were of a high order.
Photographic Society of Sri Lanka conducts its operations in one of the rooms on the ground floor. Photographic enthusiasts meet here regularly. The society organizes educational programmes for beginners and enthusiasts. They also conduct an annual international photographic exhibition.
The Lionel Wendt Memorial Art Centre is the premier institution dedicated to the performing arts, to drama, ballet and music, and to painting, sculpture and photography.
The four stars allocated do not reflect comfort at the Art Centre. It reflects the quality of paintings exhibited and the high standard of plays staged there.Written 31 January 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Ranee BAdelaide, Australia757 contributionsWe were very disappointed with this, There are nice paintings but no plaques with information as to the subject matter or the name of the artist. There should be a small label beneath each painting. There was no one capable of giving us any information, but just 2 security guards!!!
The area next door with the sculptures was closed. Very sad to see this in a beautiful building located in a very nice area in Colombo, located just before the entrance to the National Museum on the left.Written 18 August 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Mohan W1 contributionA much needed art gallery providing the opportunity to some of the talented artists ! Worth a visit where the friendly staff will ensure all your questions and needs are taken care ofWritten 19 July 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Ruveka A1 contributionI'm constantly amazed by the wide range of quality art supplies at plate. They always have what i want. The best art supplies shop in sri lanka!Written 15 June 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- GilbeyCooksColombo, Sri Lanka77 contributionsExquisite little shop showcasing work of small emerging artisans of Sri Lanka. Worth a stop on your meanderings in Colombo.Written 29 December 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
