Young Jin Yee, co-head UBS global wealth management Asia Pacific and country head UBS Singapore, shares about the global bank’s dedication to art patronage
At first glance, banking and contemporary art might appear to sit at opposite ends of the spectrum. One is rooted in numbers and strategy, while the other thrives on creativity and imagination. Yet, UBS has long demonstrated that these two worlds are not just compatible, but mutually enriching. Its guiding motto, ‘banking is our craft’, is a philosophy that extends beyond balance sheets into its six-decade-long patronage of the arts.
UBS’s journey into arts patronage began when it started collecting contemporary art in the 1960s. Over the decades, this passion has evolved into one of the world’s most significant corporate art collections, comprising more than 40,000 works displayed across its 700 offices worldwide. But beyond the breadth of the collection, UBS has distinguished itself by championing art as a public good.
“Contemporary art embodies the spirit that our firm stands for: questioning the status quo, exploring global perspectives, and innovative thinking,” says Young Jin Yee, co-head UBS global wealth management Asia Pacific and country head UBS Singapore.
If its art collection anchors the bank’s internal culture, its global partnerships exemplify its outward-facing role as a cultural catalyst. UBS was the first sponsor of Art Basel in 1994 and, more than three
decades later, remains one of its most prominent partners.
At home, UBS is the founding and lead partner of Art SG, Singapore’s pre-eminent international art fair. At this year’s edition, which coincides with the country celebrating 60 years of independence, UBS launched the Art for All programme. The bank presented a 60m-long commemorative tapestry woven out of upcycled materials by UBS employees and community partners. Displayed at the UBS Art Studio during the fair, it even set a record as the longest handwoven tapestry made of recycled fabrics in the Singapore Book of Records.
“The fair strongly resonates with UBS’s core belief in harnessing the power of contemporary art to inspire people to come together and reimagine a better world. We are proud to continue championing art as a force for good,” says Young.
Fostering deep understanding
That said, patronage is not only about displaying or sponsoring art, it is also about deepening understanding. Since 2017, UBS and Art Basel have co-published the annual Global Art Market Report and the Survey of Global Collecting. These reports are now considered touchstones for anyone seeking to understand the ever-shifting landscape of art economics.
The bank’s role as a patron of the arts also creates a natural bridge to its clients, many of whom are passionate collectors themselves. Through exclusive access to fairs such as Art SG and Art Basel, UBS enables its clients to encounter the most important galleries and artists of the moment, while also connecting them with fellow collectors and cultural leaders.
“Beyond investment and wealth solutions, UBS’s robust support of the arts is another way we connect with our clients and the next generation,” says Young. “Our partnerships with art fairs demonstrate our support of programmes that enable our clients to participate in the contemporary art market while supporting galleries and artists from around the globe.”
The numbers tell their own story. According to The Art Basel and UBS Survey of Global Collecting 2024, 97 per cent of Singapore’s high-net-worth collectors expressed optimism about the global art market, placing them among the most enthusiastic buyers worldwide. UBS’s presence at the heart of this ecosystem has reinforced Singapore’s reputation as a cultural hub, while giving its clients privileged entry points into the art world.
With initiatives such as the UBS Art Gallery in New York, which showcases works from the collection alongside rotating exhibitions, the bank is actively widening public access to art. At the same time, it continues to expand its influence in Asia through Art SG and collaborations with regional artists such as Singapore’s Hilmi Johandi and Dawn Ng.
“Since the highly successful launch of Art SG in 2023, both the fair and Singapore have grown in prominence and importance in the global art scene,” says Young. “Through our patronage of the arts, we seek to further our shared interest in contemporary art and collecting with our clients, our employees, and the societies we operate in.”
