Kerala Lalita Kala Akademi, Art institution in Thrissur, India

Kerala Lalithakala Akademi is Kerala's state body for the visual arts, founded in 1962 and headquartered at Chembukkavu in Thrissur. Its Durbar Hall Art Centre in Kochi, entered from a street-side white wall with a black sign bearing gold lettering, holds exhibitions. Sculptures are displayed inside the academy building and in its courtyard, including granite pieces.

Kerala Lalithakala Akademi was established in 1962 by the Government of Kerala as an autonomous body modelled on the national Lalit Kala Akademi, making it the apex body for visual arts in the state. Its headquarters is in Chembukkavu, Thrissur. Murali Cheeroth became chairman in January 2022, succeeding figures such as Kattoor Narayana Pillai and Sathyapal T. A.

The Akademi runs exhibitions, art camps, workshops and seminars across Kerala, and its Durbar Hall Art Centre in Kochi is one of the galleries it manages. It also holds an annual state-level visual arts exhibition and gives awards, fellowships and scholarships to artists. The K.C.S. Panicker award is given each year for excellence in painting; winners include Akkitham Narayanan (2009) and S.G. Vasudev (2010).

The Akademi's Durbar Hall Art Centre is in Kochi, not near Durbar Hall Ground in Thrissur; its headquarters is in Chembukkavu, Thrissur. The centre is entered from a street-side wall with a black sign and gold lettering beside a metal gate. Exhibitions change, so check what is on before travelling.

The academy grants annual awards to exceptional artists and maintains detailed records of Kerala's visual arts development. These honors help recognize both emerging and established creators in the region.