Department of Painting

Department of Painting

The Department of Painting practices the student for the language of Drawing and Painting through a rigorous studio-based education, so that will be a solid foundation to become a practicing painter. This comprehensive program equips the student with a high level of skills of the academic aspect of painting, and the modern and contemporary approaches to the filed. The Department is also dedicated to explore Sri Lankan Traditional Painting through a rigorous studio practice and on field studies. Combining all these studio based education with research components which address the critical thinking, conceptual ideas, theoretical and contextual investigation of practice, the Department amplifies its contribution to the students, faculty and the public. Through our public program such as exhibitions and art talks the Department shares art and culture to a wider audience. The Department also has networked with Korea National University of Art in South Korea and SOJO University in Kumamoto in Japan. Our academic staff is the forefront figures in the country on Drawing and Painting major. They have profound profiles as practicing artists within the institute, the country and region as well. These extraordinary academics are qualified with post-graduates practice and research from the countries of India, USA, China, and in Sri Lanka. With all these, the Department facilitates our student to become a graduate who will be a forefront figure in the fields of visual arts and culture.

About Us

The Department of Painting is the oldest department in UVPA, and had a certain link with the first program of Drawing and Painting offered by the Art Department of the Technical College in Marada in 1893.

In 1933 the Art Department extended the craft sections that focused on developing the local craft industry.

In 1949 the Art Department with extended sections for Art Crafts was established at present premises – No 46, Horton Place, Colombo 07 by J.D.A. Perera who was the first principle of the college. The Painting and Drawing course was a five-year diploma. A historical turning point of the department was marked in 1953 with restructuring of the Art Department as the Government College of Fine Arts (GCFA).

In the 1950s the Program of Drawing and Painting had been run under the School of Drawing and Painting which is the earliest form of the Department of Painting. The program was run with extraordinary academic staff which included David Paynter, Stanley Abesinghe, S.P. Charles, W.A Ariyasena who is still working in his studio, Q. V. Saldin, S.J.P Wihesena, under the headship of J.D.A.Perera.

In the 1970s the School of Drawing and Painting was redefined as the Institute of Aesthetic Studies attached to the University of Kelaniya. After that, in 2005 the Institute was also restructured as an independent university which was named as the University of the Visual and Performing Art. The present form of the Department was established under the Faculty of Visual Arts in UVPA in 2005.

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