OHC26: Hema Shironi Joseph and Pradeep Thalawatta [Tour]

Join a tour of two artists' home studios as part of Open House Colombo 2026.

Tucked in a suburb of Kuduwela, just east of Colombo, sits the home and studio of working artists Hema Shironi Joseph and Pradeep Thalawatta.

A multidisciplinary artist, Shironi’s practice spans embroidery, mythological imagery, bricolage, and installation, focusing on cultural identity and themes of colonisation, displacement, and migration. Her work often draws from personal stories and her Sri Lankan upbringing. Shironi is the recipient of the 2026 Asia Arts Future (South Asia) Award.

Thalawatta’s work explores the intersections of material culture and everyday life. Using imagery drawn from popular and mass culture—such as packaging, found objects, and the vernacular aesthetics of the street—Thalawatta examines complexities of social relations, economic struggles, and urban realities. After lecturing in art and design at the University of Jaffna, Thalawatta co-founded Kolam, a collaborative project between local craftspeople and university graduates that transforms craft into contemporary artworks. 

Visitors to the space will get a glimpse into what it means for two practising artists to live and work together, whilst navigating parenthood. Their young daughter has become a great source of inspiration in their practices, and their home studio showcases their art alongside their daughter's own drawings on canvas.

Address: 123/3, Ransiri Uyana Road, off Horaketiya Road, Korathota, Kaduwela

Google map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qeRgUtiA821J5pBA9