Singapore, 8 May 2025 – UOB conducted the first sharing session for its newly-formed Artist Alumni Network of UOB Painting of the Year (UOB POY) artists on 5 May 2025. Past UOB POY winners and participants gathered at The Artground for a sharing by three artists to kick off the call for entries for this year’s competition, which is into its 44th year.
Established in 1982, the UOB POY is the longest-running annual art competition in Singapore and one of the most recognised in Southeast Asia.
The inaugural artist sharing session was the first event under the UOB Artist Alumni Network, a regional network set up to elevate the profiles of winning artists from the UOB Painting of the Year competition and UOB Art in Ink Awards. The network was launched in November last year to enhance UOB’s long-term support for artists through four key areas such as artwork exhibitions at marquee platforms like Art Jakarta and Art Central in Hong Kong, where UOB is a lead partner, artwork commissions for display or auctions, overseas artist residency programmes and networking opportunities and engagements with peers and leaders of the art community.
UOB POY artists Mr Jeremy Hiah, Ms Jamie Teo and Ms Ho Seok Kee shared about their recent art residency experiences with fellow UOB POY artists, including last year’s UOB POY’s Singapore and Southeast Asian award winner, Mr Yong Wee Loon. UOB had sponsored both Mr Hiah and Ms Teo for their art residencies. Mr Hiah, winner of the 2023 UOB POY (Singapore), Established Artist Category, attended his art residency at Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in February 2025. Ms Teo, the winner of the 2018 UOB POY (Singapore), Silver Award under the Emerging Artist Category, had gone to Cité internationale des arts in Paris for her art residency in November 2024.
Two-time UOB POY winner, Ms Ho, also did her residency at Cité internationale des arts, and UOB had also showcased her works at UOB Art Space at Jakarta 2023 and S.E.A. Focus 2019.
The sharing session was followed by a panel discussion where the artists shared how their experiences had helped to shape or shift their artistic practice, how they balanced art exploration versus production during their residencies and their interactions with local art communities.
The artist residency programme provides artists with valuable opportunities for exposure and gaining inspiration to create their works, as they immerse themselves in different cultures, not just from the hosting country, but also through networking with other artists-in-residence. UOB has given out about 20 residencies to UOB Painting of the Year winners and moving forward, is looking to give out three to four residencies a year.
Mr Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer, UOB, said, “UOB’s presence in ASEAN extends beyond business connectivity to fostering community connections. For over four decades, the UOB Painting of the Year competition has uncovered and nurtured artistic talents across Southeast Asia, reflecting our long-term commitment to supporting and uplifting the community through art. As UOB celebrates its 90th anniversary with a focus on giving back, we hope that the UOB Artist Alumni Network will underscore art’s contribution by encouraging established artists to collaborate and contribute to the art community across the region.”
Calling for submissions for 2025 UOB POY competition
UOB is inviting artists in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam to participate in the 2025 UOB POY competition. This year, UOB is encouraging artists, both emerging and established, from all walks of life, to push their creative boundaries and join the Bank’s flagship art competition.
Submissions for the 2025 UOB POY competition will open from now till 31 July 2025. All Singapore citizens and permanent residents are eligible to submit one artwork online for either the Established or Emerging Artist Category at UOBandArt.com.
The five country winners from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam will compete for the coveted UOB Southeast Asian POY award, with a prize award of an additional S$13,000 on top of their respective country award prize, and a chance for an overseas residency programme. All Singapore winners and the winner of the 2025 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year will be announced at an awards ceremony on 12 November 2025. The winners from the other countries will be announced separately in their own markets before the 2025 UOB Painting of the Year Awards Ceremony and Exhibition.
