UOB Indonesia launches the 16th UOB Painting of the Year competition, connecting Indonesian artists to regional and global platforms

Jakarta, 6 May 2026 – UOB Indonesia today announced the launch of the 16th UOB Painting of the Year (POY) competition, continuing its long‑standing commitment to supporting visual arts in Indonesia. The competition invites established and emerging artists across Indonesia to submit original artwork, providing a platform for artistic expression and professional recognition.

As one of Southeast Asia’s most established art competitions, the UOB POY competition is UOB’s flagship regional art programme held across Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The UOB POY also supports artistic development by connecting Indonesian artists to wider regional and international opportunities.

UOB is elevating artistic excellence with enhanced criteria for the Established Artist category, to better recognise demonstrated artistic practice and engagement within the art ecosystem.

The revised prerequisites will raise the benchmark for established artists to be assessed alongside peers of similar experience, enabling the competition to celebrate artistic growth and commitment. Artists who plan to submit their artworks under the Established Artist Category will need to fulfil a minimum of three prerequisites below:

• Currently or have been represented by commercial art galleries.
• Sold artworks.
• Participated in a group or solo exhibition.
• Received a grant or commission to create artworks for commercial entities, institutions or any organisation.
• Is a recipient of art-related awards, locally or outside of Indonesia.

Luke Ariefiandi, Head of Strategic Communications and Brand, UOB Indonesia, said, “As we mark the 16th year of UOB Painting of the Year in Indonesia, this competition reflects our long-term commitment to supporting the growth of the local art community. We are focused on enabling artists to grow sustainably beyond the competition. Through the UOB Art Alumni Network, we connect Indonesian artists to opportunities across Southeast Asia and the global stage, helping them expand their practice, build meaningful collaborations, and reach wider audiences.”

Empowering artists through the UOB Artist Alumni Network
Beyond artistic recognition, the UOB POY extends its impact by providing artists with structured and progressive pathways for regional and international exposure as they advance in their careers.

Central to this approach is the UOB Art Alumni Network, a regional platform that connects past UOB POY recipients and participants to curated opportunities across ASEAN and beyond, including UOB Art Talks, exhibitions, professional engagements and overseas residency programmes.

Through this framework, Indonesian UOB POY alumni can continue to expand their practice, build cross-border collaborations and gain professional visibility beyond national borders. As part of this commitment, selected UOB POY alumni will be offered access to the UOB-NAFA Studios Residency Programme in Paris, reflecting UOB’s continued investment in regional artist development. The programme is exclusively designed for UOB POY alumni, distinct from the residency awarded to the UOB POY winner, and is conducted annually on a rotating basis among participating countries including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Aurora Arazzi, Gold Award winner in the Established Artist Category of the 2025 UOB POY (Indonesia), has been selected for the upcoming UOB-NAFA Studios Residency Programme at Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, as part of the UOB Artist Alumni Network's programme, commencing in July 2026.

Call for submissions
The UOB POY competition in Indonesia is open to Indonesian citizens and permanent residents aged 16 and above. Artists may submit one original artwork online from 6 May to 31 July 2026.

The judging panel for the 2026 UOB POY (Indonesia) competition comprises:

• Melati Suryodarmo, Renowned performance artist with more than 20 years of local and international art experience, Chief Judge
• Dr Agung Hujatnika, Independent Art Curator and Lecturer, Faculty of Art and Design, Bandung Institute of Technology
• Heri Pemad, Creative Director, Sarinah Art District Jakarta and Founder of Art Jog and Art Bali

The 2026 UOB POY Winner (Indonesia) will be announced on 24 September 2026 and will represent Indonesia at the regional level, competing for the UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year Award. The regional winner will receive a cash prize of S$13,000 and the opportunity to participate in an overseas artist residency programme. The 2026 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year winner will be announced on 28 October 2026 in Singapore.

Engaging and supporting the local art community
To deepen engagement with the local art community, UOB Indonesia will also organise a UOB POY roadshow in Bandung, one of the country’s key creative hubs. The programme will include an art talk featuring UOB POY winners and prominent art practitioners, aimed at inspiring aspiring artists, encouraging wider participation and deepening artistic knowledge.

For more information on the UOB POY competition and artwork submissions, please visit go.uob.com/UOBPOYID.