“A modular platform at the heart of UNESCO’s Galle Fort, planted as a seed for growing collaborations in Art, Architecture, Fashion, Storytelling, Academic Research, Social Impact, and Entrepreneurship—nurturing meaningful, sensory, and collective experiences locally and globally”
by Sandeepa Vithanage
‘A Dream In The Making’
The story of Art’o’San Studio Gallery is deeply personal. It is a story that began not with a business plan or formal blueprint, but with a quiet dream—a dream nurtured in sketchbooks, in solitary reflections, in the in-between spaces of cities and conversations. Since 2012/2013, I have carried the vision of building a space that merged art, architecture, and design into something more than the sum of its parts. I wanted to create a place where diverse creative expressions could live under one roof—where painting, fashion, architecture, storytelling, and even a cup of tea could converge into a sensory, meaningful experience.
For years, I searched for that space. And eventually, I found it in Galle Fort. A timeless place—steeped in colonial history and cultural resonance. Here, amidst winding lanes and centuries-old walls, I planted the first seed of the Art’o’San vision. The Fort offered a perfect setting: global yet grounded, intimate yet open. It allowed me to be experimental, to build slowly, and to create something that feels alive. This is where Art’o’San finally took physical form—a multidisciplinary studio, gallery, and platform of exploration.
‘A Nomadic Practice’
I am Sandeepa Vithanage—an Artist, Architect, Lecturer, and a Chartered Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). My practice is shaped by constant movement and observation. I’ve walked through ancient cities, modern metropolises, rural villages, and tropical coastlines—always sketching, absorbing, documenting. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Architecture and Environmental Studies, my journey has never been about linear progress—it has always been about intersections: where art meets architecture, where fashion meets urban memory, where form meets emotion.
I’ve always been fascinated by the stories of cities, their forgotten corners, and their unexpected harmonies. Urban sketching became my way of listening—of translating spatial memory into something visual. Over time, these sketches evolved into paintings, paintings into installations, and installations into environments. I believe in a design approach that’s intuitive and inclusive—one that combines aesthetics with social impact. I’m particularly passionate about working with students and children with special needs, integrating design thinking into education, and creating platforms that promote empathy through creativity.
Academically, my work is rooted in field-based design research. Art’o’San Studio Gallery is not only a public-facing reative platform—it is also a research and workshop space, aligned with my academic sion of reading architectural and cultural landscapes through participatory methodologies.
‘A Platform, Not A Product’
Art’o’San was born from this desire to go beyond the traditional boundaries of practice. It’s not just a gallery, or a studio, or a shop—it’s a platform. A modular, ever-evolving space where ideas are tested, stories are told, and disciplines merge. As a brand name, “Art’o’San” began as a shorthand for “Art of Sandeepa.” But as the studio grew, it took on a larger meaning. Today, Art’o’San stands for a vision—a belief that creativity can and must coexist with sustainability, entrepreneurship, and community.
From the beginning, I saw this space as an experimental lab for design entrepreneurship. A place where artistic and architectural dreams don’t just live in isolation but are sustained through real-world engagement. The café inside the gallery isn’t just for coffee—it’s part of the spatial experience. The clothes and objects displayed are not simply products—they are stories, crafted with intention and cultural references. The gallery doesn’t only hang paintings—it curates conversations.
Most importantly, the space now serves as the primary site for one of my key academic workshop series: “Reading a Historic Fortscape – Galle Fort: Through Mapping, Sketching & Storytelling”. This ongoing initiative is part of a larger collective academic journey titled: “Walk, Sketch, Map, Research, Write, Archive.”
‘Where Everything Meets’
At Art’o’San, multidisciplinarity is not a buzzword—it is the foundation. Our work process is not confined to a single format or output. Instead, it’s fluid, driven by context and collaboration. On some days, we’re preparing for an architecture-focused design charrette. On others, we’re shooting a fashion collection inspired by Sri Lankan textures and coastal landscapes. Some weeks are spent curating an exhibition, while others are dedicated to community-based workshops, artist residencies, or pop-up events.
Sketching and storytelling remain central to my creative process. It’s how ideas are born—through lines, movements, and observations. These sketches evolve into architectural diagrams, paintings, or fashion motifs.
Our team is small, flexible, and driven by mutual respect. We collaborate across time zones and disciplines. We’re not afraid of mistakes—they’re part of the process. I’ve made many. I’ve taken risks, tried projects that didn’t fully land, and embraced the uncertainty that comes with innovation. But through every step, I’ve learned, adapted, and refined the vision.
‘A Vision Beyond The Fort’
As an architect, I’ve always been fascinated by modularity and mobility. I believe in design that can adapt, travel, and respond to diverse needs. Not every structure has to be permanent to have value. Some of the most meaningful spaces are temporary, lightweight, and purpose-driven.
This philosophy now extends to the vision for Art’o’San itself. While Galle Fort is our flagship, the idea is scalable and modular. I envision similar Art’o’San nodes across Sri Lanka—in Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna, and eventually, internationally. Each space will be shaped by its context—its stories, materials, people—but connected by a shared design ethos.
Imagine a tea kiosk in the Central Highlands that also functions as a storytelling platform. Or a mobile art studio in Jaffna that brings creativity to underserved communities. Or a series of bamboo pavilions that serve as open-air galleries, workshops, or cafes. These are not far-off dreams. They are the next steps—modules waiting to be activated.
Each module is self-contained but expandable. It can host a painting show, a fashion pop-up, a film screening, or a design dialogue. It’s about being light on your feet, but heavy in impact.
In academic terms, this modular framework mirrors flexible studio pedagogy—a teaching approach that adapts to location, method, and audience. These modules can be activated as mobile classrooms, heritage documentation labs, or even research residencies—bridging the physical and the intellectual dimensions of space-making.
‘Evolving With Purpose’
I don’t believe in final forms. Creativity must evolve. And I see Art’o’San as a lifelong experiment—a journey that will shift in response to people, place, and time. While the gallery in Galle Fort is currently the most visible expression of this journey, it is only the beginning.
Looking forward, I want to continue bridging local and global voices. I want to work with emerging creatives and seasoned experts, with community leaders and international curators. I want to continue developing collections—whether fashion or furniture, or architecture—that are rooted in Sri Lankan identity but speak a global language. I want to host artist residencies, publish zines, and create pop-up experiences in unexpected places.
And I want to keep learning. I know I still need to find my architectural niche more clearly. I am particularly drawn to small-scale interventions—nomadic structures, community spaces, pavilions, and tiny homes. I want to spend more time refining my design language, building with more intention, and listening closely to what each site wants to say.
But above all, I want to keep inspiring the next generation. Young architects, artists, and designers in Sri Lanka need to know that building your own platform is possible. It’s not always easy. It requires courage, patience, and a certain stubborn optimism. But it is deeply rewarding. Entrepreneurship in the creative field is not a side skill—it is a core component of shaping new narratives, building communities, and designing a better future.
‘A Studio Of Possibility’
Art’o’San Studio Gallery is not a destination—it is a process. It is a continuous conversation between place and practice, between memory and imagination. It is a space that asks questions, hosts dialogues, and quietly nurtures possibility.
Whether you’re walking into the gallery for a painting show, sipping tea by the courtyard, browsing a fashion piece, or joining a creative discussion, you’re becoming part of something modular, something alive. You’re entering a space that believes creativity can connect us all.
As for me, I will keep sketching, building, curating, and evolving. This is just the beginning. The first seed is Art’o’San in the Historic Galle Dutch Fort — a modular initiative that grows like a plant, adapting and expanding through a plug-and-play system shaped by the unique character of each city it touches, locally and internationally. It is at once an esthetic, academic, CSR, and entrepreneurship module — a living platform designed to cultivate meaningful collaborations between people, places, and disciplines. “Walk, Sketch, Map, Research, Write, Archive” — a collective academic journey.
