The George Keyt Foundation’s ‘Young Contemporaries 2025’ exhibition culminated with tremendous success at the Barefoot Gallery, drawing over 300 attendees on the first evening and achieving extraordinary sales of artworks. The event, inaugurated by the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, H.E. Andrew Patrick, showcased the creativity of 12 emerging artists from around the island.
After careful evaluation by a distinguished panel of judges, the coveted ‘Young Contemporary 2025 Award’ was presented to Ponnaiyah Peter, a 27‑year‑old artist from Kilinochchi. His deeply moving works, rooted in memories of war and its aftermath, shone through their powerful expression of trauma, resilience, and the search for peace. The award was presented by Hemantha Gunetilleke, CEO, Nations Trust Bank, the event’s sponsor.
The works of the artists with the best collection were evaluated by Leena Hirdaramani, Anomaa Rajakaruna, Nelun Harasgama, and Dominic Sansoni.
Chairman of the George Keyt Foundation, Malaka Talwatte, hailed this year’s edition as one of the most successful, highlighting the strong public response and the Foundation’s ongoing mission to promote Sri Lankan art on the national and global stage. The winner’s art captures the very spirit of the George Keyt Foundation as a space where contemporary issues find powerful expression through creativity.
