Our Feature in Somerset Life
The Discerning Palette’s Feature in March 2025 Issue of Somerset Life Magazine
Written by Emma Bovill
Two childhood friends from Singapore with a shared love of art, Saira Kalimuddin and Shanti Davamoni created online art sales business The Discerning Palette (TDP) in 2020, on the cusp of lockdown, with the aim to make art accessible and affordable. In fact, Bristol-based Saira lists one of her life goals as making ‘the concept of art something we can all enjoy and not slink away from’ in response to the perceived weight of art world knowledge that can be terrifying for the seemingly uneducated.
With a focus on pre-owned originals spanning the 1920s to 1980s, Saira and Shanti recognise the value, beyond the immediate price tag, that art has in our living spaces. They’re as happy to give advice on hanging, framing (or reframing) and how to tighten a loose stretched canvas as they are on the aesthetic qualities of an artwork. Above all, they advocate appreciating art from a feeling centre and choosing based onquality, subject and connection rather than for an artist’s name.
Artworks range from £150 to just over £1200 and they are introducing authentic mid-century modernist lithographs, as well as work by contemporary artists who paint in a modernist style, to their evolving collection. They are nothing if not approachable, even playful at times with the insights they share into their lives as art dealers and curators and above all art lovers. They don’t shy away from sharing the realities of storage and delivery and we warm to them all the more for it.
After studying at Sotheby’s, the MA Fine Art: Curating course at UWE Bristol brought Saira to the city in 2014 and she hasn’t left, developing her love of Modern art while based at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. As an online gallery TDP doesn’t have a physical exhibition space but it has hosted pop ups, including at the Arts Mansion space at Ashton Court in Bristol and at a concept store and café in Gloucestershire. Paintings can also be viewed by appointment at Saira’s home studio.
“Running an online art gallery marries both my passion for art as well as my need to work flexibly..”
Saira co-manages TDP, writing digestible content about art online and sharing practical tips for buyers on social media alongside being a mum of two. ‘Running an online art gallery marries both my passion for art as well as my need to work flexibly,’ she says. ‘Does this mean I work any less or put in less effort? Absolutely not. I can enjoy my job and also enjoy being there for my family.’
To view the Discerning Palette collection, click here.
