Sunday Times 2
Schokman & Samerawickreme’s Art Auction—Works by the ’43 Group and Modern Artists—set for August 3
View(s):Sri Lanka’s foremost auction house, Schokman & Samerawickreme, will host its Art Auction on 3 August 2025 at Mihilaka Medura, BMICH, Colombo 07.
The auction will begin at 10 a.m. on August 3, with viewing taking place on August 1 and 2 at Schokman & Samerawickreme’s Flagship Auction & Sales Facility at No. 63 Isipathana Mawatha, Colombo 05.
While Schokman & Samerawickreme traditionally holds two art auctions per year, the decision to hold this additional auction just three months after their most recent auction, Collector’s Edition: Vol III, is in response to overwhelming interest from both collectors and artists. The collection for this auction has steadily built up over recent months and features a carefully curated mix of works that represent both Sri Lanka’s modern masters and its vibrant contemporary art scene.
“The auction is especially exciting for us because nearly half the collection is made up of works by contemporary Sri Lankan artists,” said Anuja Samerawickreme, Partner and CEO of Schokman & Samerawickreme. “Many of these artists have exhibited at key local spaces as well as internationally, and the auction also features a small selection of antique paintings from artists who visited
Sri Lanka in the 19th and 20th centuries. The auction reflects our ongoing commitment to nurturing the Sri Lankan art market, providing a trusted, transparent space where both emerging and established artists can be discovered, and where buyers and collectors know their investments are backed by integrity and professionalism.”
The auction sale will showcase 53 paintings alongside five lots of art-related books, a small collection of prints, and several historically significant works from private collections. Notable featured artists include Iromie Wijewardena, Anoli Perera, Jeoffrey Carlyle Ebert, Jagath Weerasinghe, S. H. Sarath, Seevali Illangasinghe, Raja Segar, Nihal Sangabo Dias, Ranjith Perera and Dulika Silva.
Rare highlights include four volumes of Donald Friend’s illustrated diaries, Sri Jayadeva’s ‘Gita Govinda,’ ‘Geoffrey Bawa’ by Brian Brace Taylor and a book of Justin Daraniyagala’s oil paintings, among others. The auction will also include works of George Keyt and Ivor Baptiste, several pieces from the Donald Ramanayake Collection—most notably paintings depicting Adam’s Peak—and an antique work from 1853 by Lt. Colonel Atkinson portraying the Temple at Anuradhapura.
The auction will also feature international modern artists’ work inspired by Sri Lanka, such as works by Alexander Sofronoff and Leo Fritze, as well as a set of antique watercolours by C. B. Nelson painted during his travels around Sri Lanka from 1899 to 1902. Also on the block is a rare glimpse into colonial-era Ceylon through a collection of seven historic prints of locations such as Galle and Matara Port.
All artworks are accompanied by provenance documentation, with Schokman & Samerawickreme’s trademark commitment to meticulous research, authenticity verification, and client transparency.
The auction will commence at 10 a.m. on August 3 at Mihilaka Medura, BMICH. The digital auction catalogue is available from July 26, and physical viewings will be held on August 1 and 2 at Schokman & Samerawickreme’s Flagship Auction & Sales Facility at No. 63 Isipathana Mawatha, Colombo 05, allowing prospective buyers to review the artworks in advance. The online catalogue will be accessible via Schokman & Samerawickreme’s website and social media platforms.
For enquiries and further details, please contact Schokman & Samerawickreme at www.sandslanka.com.