UOB rethinks what it means to support artists

[SINGAPORE] UOB is no longer content with just running art contests. After decades of giving out lucrative prizes through its long-standing UOB Painting of the Year (POY) competition, the bank now wants to make sure those victories take the artists farther. 

So it’s piloting “Confluence – A UOB Artist Alumni Exhibition”, a new showcase that takes place at All About Art Gallery from Oct 18 to Nov 30. The idea is rooted in the belief that UOB recognition should, for some artists, mark the beginning of an enduring career.

“Confluence” features 22 artworks by six artists – all past UOB POY winners – who are now placed in the commercial gallery world. For the first time, every piece is available for purchase, marking a deliberate shift from award recognition to livelihood.

The show is part of a broader move under the UOB Artist Alumni Network. The network was launched in Nov 2024 to help prize-winning artists gain greater exposure through residencies, networking opportunities, regional platforms such as Art Jakarta and Art Central Hong Kong, and now – through this pilot – gallery representation. 

Inside the exhibition, the mix is as textured as the artists themselves. Om Mee Ai, a six-time POY winner, presents her precisely layered geometric abstractions. Nurul Afiqah Mohamad Suhaimi explores time and intimacy through delicate linework. 

Stephy Chien, 2023’s Most Promising Artist of the Year, bridges Chinese-ink tradition and contemporary imagery. William Goh, president of the Modern Art Society Singapore, examines sustainability and urban change. Chan Mi Ki paints the quiet poetry of daily life, while Yong Wee Loon, the overall winner of POY 2024, captures nostalgia for simpler times through his realistic paintings. 

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If “Confluence” works, it could transform UOB’s annual POY competition into something less about prizes and more about long-term possibilities.  

Confluence – A UOB Artist Alumni Exhibition runs from Oct 18 to Nov 30 at All About Art Gallery, 39 Keppel Road, 02-01E. Opening hours: 12pm to 6pm (Thursday to Saturday) or by appointment on all other days.