The annual art festival ,Kala Pola 2025, transformed Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha (Green Path), Colombo 07, into a vibrant canvas of colour, creativity, and culture when it opened to enthusiastic art loving crowds on 16th February 2025. With over 390 artists showcasing their impressive work, the 32nd edition of Sri Lanka’s beloved open-air art fair offered an unforgettable celebration of artistic expression. Visitors to Kala Pola braved the intense heat to browse and explore the phenomenal works of art on display.
The concept of The George Keyt Foundation, Kala Pola was first launched in 1993 with only 35 artists, since then Kala Pola has enjoyed the unwavering patronage of Sri Lanka’s premier conglomerate the John Keells Group since 1994. Kala Pola was inspired by world famous outdoor art fairs like the Montmartre in Paris and the Turl Street Art Festival in Oxford. Within just a couple of years, it was being regarded as an important art event and a highlight on the Sri Lankan art calendar,hosting approximately 300 painters and sculptors from various parts of the country and over 20,000 visitors both local and foreign each year.
Kala Pola’s primary goal is to support and develop the careers of talented artists and sculptors by giving them a platform to showcase their work, build a customer base, and exchange ideas with fellow artists. It also aims to establish art as a viable and exciting career path. Over the years, Kala Pola has successfully promoted visual art to the public in a relaxed and enjoyable setting filled with music and a sense of community.
BY NELUM BUDDHADASA