AXA Philippines enters SEA's art scene with Cyril Kongo collaboration

Singapore’s contemporary art scene took centre stage this January as ART SG welcomed collectors, curators, and creatives from around the world. Among the familiar names this year is a new entrant: AXA Philippines, marking its first appearance at the fair as part of a unified regional presence by the AXA Group.

While AXA XL, the property & casualty and specialty risk division of AXA, returns for its fourth consecutive year, ART SG 2026 signals a broader engagement across Southeast Asia. Joining AXA Philippines are AXA Thailand, Krungthai-AXA Life, and AXA Insurance Indonesia, demonstrating the group’s shared commitment to nurturing the region’s creative ecosystem and community initiatives.

At the centre of AXA Philippines’ debut is a striking collaboration with internationally renowned contemporary artist Cyril Kongo. Known for blending graffiti, calligraphy, and vibrant abstraction, Kongo created a piece exclusively for ART SG 2026 that explores themes of boundless possibility and positive impact. The work reflects over a decade of creative partnership with AXA in Paris and embodies the insurer’s belief in art as a catalyst for dialogue and change.

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But AXA’s engagement extends beyond the exhibition walls. Through the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, the group will support selected local initiatives across Southeast Asia focused on child protection, translating artistic inspiration into tangible social impact.

“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.”

By joining ART SG, AXA Philippines positions itself not simply as a sponsor, but as a cultural partner – one that sees art as a shared language, a bridge between creativity and community, and a vehicle for meaningful engagement.

Founded in 1999, AXA Philippines is one of the largest insurance companies in the country, providing financial security to over a million individuals through life and general insurance products. A joint venture between AXA Group, GT Capital Holdings and Metrobank, AXA Philippines pioneered bancassurance and investment-linked insurance in the Philippines.

The latest developments reflect AXA’s repositioning beyond insurance, with a broader focus on social impact. Previously, AXA Philippines tackled mental health awareness and action through the Mind Health Self-Check, a digital tool helping Filipinos turn concern into practical self-care, following a study highlighting the gap between awareness and response.

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