ABOUT US
Our latest edition ARTRA Magazine’s South Asian Contemporary Art Edition 68 is out now.
ABOUT ARTRA
ARTRA is a pioneering Sri Lankan Modern & Contemporary Art Organization, renowned for its publications, talks and exhibitions. Founded in 2012 with the launch of ARTRA Magazine, the brand has evolved to encompass an idiosyncratic style of celebrating art, culture and heritage. ARTRA promotes and partners with leading artists, galleries, institutions, banks and diplomatic missions locally and internationally, fostering meaningful discussions and conversations within the art community. Committed to expanding the reach and understanding of Sri Lankan and South Asian Modern & Contemporary Art, ARTRA hosts a series of art experiential evenings and curated art exhibitions alongside art talks and artist walks year-round to enrich the creative landscape. Functioning from 33, Level 12, Parkland, Park Street, Colombo with a dedicated team passionate about the arts, ARTRA remains at the forefront of artistic exploration and cultural discourse, connecting the public with established and emerging artists and their work.
ARTRA Magazine continues to set the benchmark for art criticism, history and commentary while www.artra.lk alongside the social media platforms of ARTRA Magazine & Daily ARTRA serve as vital online resources. ARTRA Exhibitions are characterized for its novel formats in unconventional spaces with the aim of piquing the interest of newer audiences for the increased consumption of Modern and Contemporary Art.
HISTORY
In 2024, ARTRA’s debut international talk ‘ARTRA Unveiled’ took place on Tuesday, the 14th of May at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, hosted by Friends of Sri Lanka, UK wherein Prof. David Robson, Art Historian, Academic and Architect was in conversation with Azara Jaleel, Founder and Editor-in-Chief on ARTRA’s 12 year journey, milestones and the premise upon which editions of ARTRA Magazines are conceived. In the same year, ARTRA together with Grosvenor Gallery presented ‘Sri Lankan Modern Art | Beyond The Shores’ wherein Dr. Shamil Wanigaratne, Art Historian, Charles Moore, Gallerist & Azara Jaleel explored the historic significance of the ‘43 Group and the perpetuation of their artistic impulses in characterizing South Asian Art to a distinguished gathering of internationally acclaimed art professionals from esteemed museums, galleries, publications and festivals alongside artists, authors and art lovers.
In 2024, ARTRA’s debut international talk ‘ARTRA Unveiled’ took place on Tuesday, the 14th of May at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, hosted by Friends of Sri Lanka, UK wherein Prof. David Robson, Art Historian, Academic and Architect was in conversation with Azara Jaleel, Founder and Editor-in-Chief on ARTRA’s 12 year journey, milestones and the premise upon which editions of ARTRA Magazines are conceived. In the same year, ARTRA together with Grosvenor Gallery presented ‘Sri Lankan Modern Art | Beyond The Shores’ wherein Dr. Shamil Wanigaratne, Art Historian, Charles Moore, Gallerist & Azara Jaleel explored the historic significance of the ‘43 Group and the perpetuation of their artistic impulses in characterizing South Asian Art to a distinguished gathering of internationally acclaimed art professionals from esteemed museums, galleries, publications and festivals alongside artists,
ABOUT ARTRA MAGAZINE
ARTRA Magazine established in 2012 is a Sri Lankan Modern and Contemporary Art Magazine that historically contextualizes and critically engages with the life and works of South Asian Artists. Featuring critical essays, interviews, curated artworks and thought pieces, ARTRA Magazine is popularly regarded for the promotion of Sri Lanka Modern and Contemporary artists since its inception, further evolving into an important medium for debate and discussion whilst appreciating art practices across the years. Founded by Azara Jaleel, who is also the Director & Editor-in-Chief, ARTRA Magazine is regarded as a beacon of artistic excellence in the South Asian Region.
ARTRA Magazine Edition 68 (2025) features a curated series of over 60 works by prolific contemporary artists Ali Kazim (Pakistan), Anoli Perera (Sri Lanka) and Tayeba Begum Lipi (Bangladesh) whichcritically examines the body, its cultural memory and gender performativity. This pivotal edition of ARTRA Magazine is its first visual edition that explores the works of three seminal South Asian Contemporary Artists whose works are part of important collections including that of the Tate Modern (UK), Solomon R. Guggenheim (NYC), British Museum (UK) Victoria and Albert Museum (UK), Ashmolean Museum (UK) among others.
ARTRA Magazine has been responsible for giving a platform to artists, art practitioners, critics, collectors, opinion leaders and formers to engage in cultural and intellectual conversations propelling a conducive environment to increase consumption and newer audiences for visual, performance, applied and written art.
ARTRA EXHIBITIONS
ARTRA’S long-term vision is to transform Sri Lanka into a gallery – of assortments where contemporary art thrives beyond conventional art spaces integrating spaces of historic significance, hotels, corporate and public spaces, and cultural landmarks into a seamless, trail potent artistic expression. With this objective as the nucleus, ARTRA Exhibitions were launched in 2022 in partnership with HNB Club, Colombo 7 to promote ARTRA’s Emerging Artists with the aim of reflecting upon both their practice and novelty to newer audiences to increase the consumption of Modern & Contemporary Art. In March & August 2023, ARTRA Exhibitions were curated at both Jetwing Lighthouse Galle, Brief Garden by Bevis Bawa & Cinnamon Bentota Beach designed by Geoffrey Bawa alongside the launches of ARTRA Magazine editions.
In January 2024 & February 2025, ARTRA transformed the UNESCO World Heritage site of Galle Fort curated to reflect the ever-evolving landscape of Sri Lankan Contemporary Art, together with the people and hotels of Galle Fort namely the Galle Fort Hotel, Fort Printers, The Charleston, The Heritage Hotel & The Merchant amongst others of architectural splendour – launched for the second consecutive year at Art Trail by ARTRA at the Galle Literary Festival. The art exhibitions across the gateways of distinct demeanours featured the works of Koralegedara Pushpakumara, key contemporary artist in Sri Lanka’s 90s trend art movement addressing the brutality of the civil war – a parallel reading to political cartoonist Gihan de Chickera’s comics and satirical drawings featured on ARTRA Magazine’s edition on the works of the artist alongside Modernists Aubrey Collette and Bevis Bawa. Additionally, the exhibitions showcased the works of Rajani Serasinghe and Kopalapillai Mathiskumar in their respective mediums of mosaic, sculpture, and mixed media explored the rapture and ruin whilst the works of Marco Manamperi and Mohamed Hathi reflected the tenacity and tonality in a chaotic Sri Lanka eclipsed by the political and economic crisis that ravaged the nation in 2022.
“ARTRA stands as a beacon of artistic excellence, celebrating the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan and South Asian creativity while earning its place as one of the finest art magazines in South Asia. Its dedication to showcasing diverse perspectives and timeless artistry is truly inspiring”
Rajeeb Samdani,
Co-Founder of the Dhake Art Summit & Samdani Art Foundation
Tate’s International Council & Advisory Board Member