Anchoring Art and Culture – Opening the Arena for UOB Painting Competition #17
UOB Thailand opens entries for its 17th annual Painting Competition, offering artists pathways to international recognition and career development through exhibitions and an alumni support network. The 2025 edition features refined eligibil
To reinforce its commitment to promoting artistic potential and supporting long-term professional development for artists, UOB Thailand has announced the opening of entries for the 17th UOB Painting Competition for 2025. Beyond serving as an annual art competition, the UOB Painting Competition acts as a gateway to sustainable career development for artists, offering continuous opportunities to showcase work at both regional and international levels, coupled with ongoing support through the UOB Artist Alumni Network.
For 2025, UOB is elevating artistic excellence by refining the eligibility criteria for professional artist applicants to be more clearly defined, reflecting experience, creative continuity, and the artist's role within the art community. These refined standards help elevate competition quality, ensuring artists are evaluated alongside peers with comparable experience.
Ms. Tharrat Oularahankij, Assistant Chief Executive Officer of Communications and Corporate Image at UOB Thailand, stated: "We believe that art is not merely about creating beauty, but is an important force that connects diverse perspectives, creates dialogue, and brings communities together."
Previous award-winning artists from the UOB Painting Competition in Thailand shared their professional experiences in both domestic and international contexts, reflecting the competition's role in opening doors to broader recognition.
Panpan Yodmani, the grand prize winner from the UOB Painting Competition in 2010, which was the competition's inaugural year in Thailand, has achieved international recognition for her work, including the Benesse Prize from Singapore Biennale 2016, and was selected for an artist residency in Paris in 2024. Most recently, her work has been continuously displayed at the White Space: Unbroken Wisdom exhibition at Lim Hak Tai Gallery at NAFA in Singapore.
Panpan stated: "Our work distinctly reflects cultural identity. Opportunities like foreign artist residency programs help open spaces for Thai art to participate in broader global conversations. The truly impactful factor is continuous, long-term support rather than just a single award."
Ms. Yamila Hali, Thailand's national grand prize winner and UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year for 2024, won with her work "Dua (Pray for a Blessing)," which was exhibited at Art Central 2026 in Hong Kong.
"The UOB Painting Competition platform plays a crucial role in creating new opportunities for artists, generating international recognition, and supporting artists to confidently develop and grow in their careers long-term," Yamila stated.
Ms. Thanyadhat Manasarakul, winner of the Most Promising Artist of the Year award for emerging or amateur artists at the 2024 UOB Painting Competition (Thailand), won with her work "Ctrl + Alt + Destruct," which has also been displayed at Art Central 2026 in Hong Kong. She added: "Thai artists play a role as storytellers on the world stage, conveying social issues and human values through perspectives deeply rooted in local context. Visibility and support from institutions help us maintain our cultural identity while meaningfully communicating and connecting with international audiences."
