ARTRA Magazine

14/07/2025

A panel discussion with a distinguished group of art personalities dissecting Modern and Contemporary Art from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh reflecting upon the shared history and cultural ties - including a colonized past, alongside the extent to which South Asian Art has, through the years, grown in significance.

We at ARTRA are honored to be a part of this important panel discussion.

13/07/2025

A review by Devika Brendon, writer & author on ARTRA’s recently concluded Art Talk on collecting on today’s Sunday Times.

On June 29, ARTRA Magazine hosted a very interesting discussion on the subject of Art Collecting. It took the form of an informal panel discussion, with the Editor of ARTRA, Azara Jaleel, interviewing Niloo Jayatilake and Thinushka de Soysa, both from the finance and corporate sphere and both art co...

13/07/2025

"Framed by grey-blue shadow upon the cobblestone wall, the woman evokes a Dionysian allure in her sprightly disposition. Like the mistresses upon the walls of Sigiriya, she serves as an ultimately unaffected and untouchable idol of temptation." - Kavinu Cooray, 'Life and Works of Ismeth Raheem', ARTRA Magazine E67, 2024

For your copy/copies of ARTRA Magazine’s 'Art & Design of Ismeth Raheem' Edition 67, call +94 77 570 1891

Ismeth Raheem (1990) Raheem Collection, Colombo

11/07/2025

“Therefore, works produced by women artists are historic in its attempt at being ‘political’...the works of the women artists that revolved around central female figures can be considered as Feminist Art, particularly those of Swanee Jayawardene.”

For your copy/copies of ARTRA Magazine’s Women & Modernism Edition 69, call +94 77 570 1891

Swanee Jayawardene, 1990, J Collection, Sri Lanka

10/07/2025

For the second consecutive year, we are elated to shed light into the significance of Sri Lankan and South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art in the form of panel discussions in London, with a distinguished group of art personalities shaping the global art industry. Await details.

06/07/2025

“These women artists have created abstract paintings, landscapes, portraiture, still life, batik amongst many others. However, unless their esoteric signature and style are familiar or documented, the viewer, reader or collector is largely ignorant of the identity and gender of the artists.”

For your copy/copies of ARTRA Magazine’s Women & Modernism Edition 69, call +94 77 570 1891

Swanee Jayawardene, 1997, J Collection, Sri Lanka

04/07/2025

“Jayasuriya’s works across the edition provides room for subversive stances, as she also paints distraught, curled human figures as seen in pages 55 and 57, resonating with sentiments of anxiety and disarray. Perhaps this is an invitation to reflect on the outpouring of blind faith?”

For your copy/copies of ARTRA Magazine’s Women & Modernism Edition 69, call +94 77 570 1891

Nalini Jayasuriya, 2005, Remorse, Taprobane Collection, Sri Lanka

27/06/2025

At the Launch of ARTRA Magazine’s Women & Modernism Edition, Editor-in-Chief Azara Jaleel engaged in a compelling discussion on Women & Modernism with Mike Anthonisz, former Chairman of the George Keyt Foundation and student of Nalini Jayasuriya, Rohan de Soysa, Chairman of the Sapumal Foundation which includes works of some of the women artists who practiced in the early to mid 1900s, Manel Jagoda, and Menik Neydoff, the daughters of Swanee Jayawardene, at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. The discussion centered on the overlooked yet vital contributions of Sri Lankan women artists from the early to mid 1900s to the country's Modern art movement, set against a potent backdrop of curated works by Nalini Jayasuriya and Swanee Jayawardene, featured on the latest edition of the magazine.

For your copy, call +9477 570 1891

27/06/2025

Amidst an important showcase of works of Nalini Jayasuriya and Swanee Jayawardene from Public & Private Collections of historic repute, Launch of ARTRA Magazine’s Women & Modernism Edition 69 (2025), brought to light the overshadowed women artists who practiced in the early to mid 1900’s, was hosted at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia yesterday. The evening unfolded with guests engaging with the works around, over stimulating conversations and discussions on the enduring influence of Sri Lanka’s women Modernists.

For your copy, call +9477 570 1891

26/06/2025

A glimpse into the untold legacies of Sri Lankan women artists from the early to mid 1900s. We were delighted to present the debut talk on Women & Modernism today for the art students of .

Part of ARTRA’s ongoing initiative to inspire dialogue and curiousity amidst students about Modern & Contemporary Art.

25/06/2025

Within the intimacy of a private collector’s home, we were thrilled to engage with the travel and hospitality sector today together with , to speak about ARTRA’s Island Gallery initiative, as we presented the scope of Modern & Contemporary Art in characterizing Sri Lanka.

25/06/2025

We are honored to have the support of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia for ARTRA’s debut art talk for students on Women & Modernism, and for hosting the Launch of ARTRA Magazine’s latest edition on Thursday, 26th of June at 6.30pm. Their progressive outlook on supporting the edition on overshadowed women artists of the mid to early 1900’s is very telling of an evolving mindset. For both the segments, former Head Master of S. Thomas’ College Mr. Maurice, the teacher in charge of the Art Club, Mr. Udaya Vidanapathirana, Teacher in Charge of Clubs & Societies Gihan de Chickera, President and Committee members of the Art Club alongside Team ARTRA worked closely in brining together a showcase of featured artist Nalini Jayasuriya’s works of Art & memorabilia to be presented at the art talk for students & the Magazine Launch.

A very special thank you to the Warden, for his generous support and appreciating our efforts for the growth of Sri Lankan Modern & Contemporary Art.