At ART SG, AXA Philippines celebrates the power of art to inspire, connect, and create impact—with Cyril Kongo and his iconic artwork.
Each January, Singapore becomes a crossroads for the global art world, drawing collectors, curators, and creatives to take stock of where contemporary art is headed in Southeast Asia. At ART SG 2026, the conversation this year expands to include a new voice: AXA Philippines, making its debut at the region’s premier international art fair as part of a unified Southeast Asian presence by the AXA Group.
The 2026 edition marks a moment of convergence for AXA in the region. While AXA XL, the group’s property and specialty risk arm, returns for its fourth consecutive year after supporting the fair since its inaugural run, this year’s showcase brings together AXA Philippines alongside AXA Thailand, Krungthai-AXA Life, and AXA Insurance Indonesia.
The collective presence underscores a shared ambition: to help nurture Southeast Asia’s creative ecosystem while engaging meaningfully with the communities that shape it.
At the center of AXA’s participation is a collaboration with Cyril Kongo, the internationally acclaimed artist celebrated for merging graffiti, calligraphy, and bold abstraction. Created exclusively for ART SG 2026, Kongo’s new work explores themes of limitless possibility and positive impact, offering a visual meditation on how art can challenge perceptions, spark dialogue, and inspire progress.
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The project builds on a creative partnership that began more than a decade ago in Paris, reflecting AXA’s long-standing support for artists who push cultural boundaries and reframe contemporary expression.
The engagement, however, extends beyond the fair’s exhibition halls. Carrying the idea of art as a catalyst for action into the wider community, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress will support selected initiatives across Southeast Asia focused on child protection.
These efforts align artistic expression with tangible social impact, reinforcing the idea that culture and community advancement are deeply intertwined.
For AXA Philippines, the ART SG debut is both symbolic and strategic. It signals the brand’s growing role within the regional art and high-net-worth ecosystem, while affirming its commitment to purpose-led engagement that goes beyond traditional sponsorships.
“At its core, general insurance is about protecting what people value most, so they can move forward with confidence,” said Gael Lapie, chief general insurance officer of AXA Philippines. “Guided by our purpose to act for human progress, our participation in ART SG reflects how protection can enable creativity, preserve cultural expression, and support communities in pursuing what matters to them.”
As ART SG continues to shape the cultural narrative of Southeast Asia, AXA Philippines’ first appearance positions the brand not merely as a supporter of the arts, but as a cultural partner. In a space where aesthetics meet ideas, AXA’s presence at ART SG 2026 serves as a reminder that the true power of art lies not only in what it shows us, but in what it inspires us to protect, support, and imagine.