As we close the year, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our friends, patrons, partners, mentors, and the wider artistic community who journeyed with KALĀ throughout 2025.

This year was shaped by collaboration across exhibitions, residencies, exchanges, and public programmes, foregrounding Sri Lankan artistic practice while deepening connections across South Asia and beyond.

Key milestones included the launch of KALĀ COMMUNE at the prestigious University of Visual and Performing Arts; the inaugural KALĀ × Hampi Art Labs Artist Residency; international exchanges at Cité internationale arts, Paris; and the continued growth of the A4A (Artists for Artists) Production Fund. Our exhibition programme expanded through the second edition of PIVOT GLIDE ECHO.

We also marked important moments through mentorship engagements at India Art Fair and the announcement of our first Artist-in-Residence for 2026.

As we look ahead, KALĀ is excited to forge new partnerships in 2026.

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.