Art Museums and Galleries in Colombo

Colombo has always boasted of a very distinctive art scene through its art museums and galleries. They are a captivating window to the past, present, and the diverse art created by our homegrown artists. If you are a secret aesthete looking for the best places to experience the local art scene, here’s a list for you!

1. Colombo National Museum

Largest museum in Sri Lanka, with galleries that are as old as 1877. They showcase all sorts of ancient art, carvings, and statues from Sri Lanka’s past, along with a collection of antique demon masks.

You can also find 19th-century reproductions of English paintings of Sri Lanka on display.

Opening hours: Daily, 9 am to 4 pm

Entrance fee:

Local child: LKR 60
Local adult: LKR 120
Foreign child: LKR 750
Foreign adult: LKR 1,500

Address: 854, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 07

Tel: 0112 695 366

Facebook: @Colombo National Museum

2. National Art Gallery

As the first State-sponsored art gallery built in Sri Lanka, it has three 3 sections: the permanent exhibit hall, the East Hall and the West Hall.

The permanent exhibit section has the works of approximately 40 famed local artists, while two adjoining wings display temporary exhibitions by Sri Lankan artists.

Opening hours: Weekdays, 9 am to 4 pm

Entrance fee: No charge

Address: 106, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 07

Tel: 0112 693 965

3. Sapumal Foundation

Founded by one of the greatest in Sri Lanka’s art scene, the gallery showcases a collection of work by the famed ‘43 Group.

It has an auxiliary gallery that displays the work of Varuni Hunt and a studio apartment which is rented out to visiting artists.

Children’s and adults’ art classes are also conducted at the art studio.

Opening hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 10 am to 1 pm

Entrance fee: No charge

Address: 32/4, Barnes Place, Colombo 07

Facebook: @SapumalFoundation

4. Number 11 – Geoffrey Bawa’s Residence

As the residence of the late Geoffrey Bawa, Number 11 is considered a special architectural marvel which also houses art and artefacts from Bawa’s collection.

The space holds a limited number of rooms for eager art and architecture enthusiasts to lodge responsibly.

Suggested tour duration: 45 minutes

Opening hours: Weekdays, 10 am to 6.30 pm

Entrance Fee:

Local rate: LKR 1,000 per person
Foreign rate: USD 10 per person
Local student rate: LKR 500 (Must carry a valid student ID)

Address: 33rd Lane, Bagatelle Road, Colombo 03

Tel: 0114 337 335 (Call for inquiries on weekdays, 9 am to 4 pm)

Website: @geoffreybawa

Facebook: @GBhomenumber11

5. Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s first museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art, including collections of art, architecture, design, craft, moving images and performance.

Other than exhibitions, they also host other interactive events, so keep an eye out!

Opening hours: Daily, 10 am to 6 pm (Closed on Poya days and public holidays)

Entrance fee: No charge

Address: Crescat Boulevard, Galle Main Road, Colombo 03

Tel: No general number to contact but reachable via social media

Website: www.mmca-srilanka.org

Facebook: @museum of modern and contemporary art

Instagram: @mmcasrilanka

6. Barefoot Gallery (The Colombo Gallery)

Founded in 1964, it showcases a diverse collection of local and international artworks, spanning various mediums and styles.

Used in a variety of ways; including exhibitions by local and foreign artists and photographers, concerts, and film nights.

Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm

Entrance Fee: Prices vary according to each exhibition

Address: 706, Galle Road, Colombo 04

Tel: 0770 255 470

Website: barefootceylon.com

Facebook: @barefoot gallery

Instagram: @barefootgallery

7. Saskia Fernando Gallery

Since its establishment in 2009, Saskia Fernando Gallery has remained one of the leading galleries in the Sri Lankan art scene.

They showcase the work of emerging and established Sri Lankan artists while reigniting the love for contemporary art in the country through various projects.

Opening hours: Weekdays, 10 am to 6 pm

Entrance fee: No charge

Address: 41, Horton Place, Colombo 07

Tel: 0117 429 010

Website: www.saskiafernandogallery.com

Facebook: @SaskiaFernandoGallery

Instagram: @saskiafernandogallery

8. Lionel Wendt Art Centre

Built in memory of one of the pivotal figures in the Sri Lankan art scene, the Lionel Wendt Art Centre, truly celebrates all things art.

It houses The Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, The Harold Peiris Gallery and The Lionel Wendt Theatre, becoming the only multi-purpose cultural centre in Colombo.

Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 am to 7 pm

Entrance fee: Prices vary according to each exhibition

Address: No. 18, Premasiri Khemadasa Mawatha, Colombo 07

Tel: 0112 695 794

Website: lionelwendt.org

Facebook: @Lionelwendt

Instagram: @the.wendt

9. JDA Perera Gallery

Named after one internationally renowned artist who pioneered the study of arts in Sri Lanka, the gallery is located at the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo.

This impressive gallery has been designed to conform to international gallery standards, with four floors of space, and is the first of its kind in the country.

Opening hours: Weekdays, 11 am to 8 pm

Entrance fee: Prices vary according to each exhibition

Address: No. 46, Horton Place, Colombo 07

Tel: 0112 693 933

10. Art Way Gallery

Displaying a collection of art by artists Sudath Abeysekara and Achala Gunawardene, it has always championed showing the diversity in the Sri Lankan art scene.

It also conducts workshops and classes at its in-house institute, training budding artists of all ages.

Opening hours: Daily, 9 am to 6 pm

Entrance fee: No charge (But do call ahead of visiting)

Address: 543/G, Withanage Avenue, Hokandara Road, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Tel: 0766 303 0310

Website: artgallery.lk

Facebook: @ArtWayGalleryLK

11. Sky Gallery- Fareed Uduman Artforum

This art gallery was established as a final tribute from a son (Jomo) to a father (Fareed).

It was Jomo’s dream to create a space to display his father’s entire collection as a permanent exhibition for artists and art lovers.

Opening hours: Daily, 9 am to 5 pm

Entrance fee: No charge

Address: 65/9, Bernard Soysa Mawatha, Colombo 05

Tel: 0777 329 596

Facebook: @Fareed Uduman Artforum

Instagram: @fareedudumanartforum

12. Paradise Road Galleries

Paradise Road Galleries was founded in 1998 to curate exhibitions that complement the space and highlight the diversity of contemporary South Asian Art.

Sri Lankan artist Shirani Pereira’s first solo exhibition was held at Paradise Road Galleries.

Opening hours: Daily, 10 am to 12 midnight

Entrance fee: No charge

Address: 138, Galle Road, Colombo 03

Website: www.paradiseroad.lk

13. Curado Arts Space