2026 UOB Art in Ink Awards
UOB
Remote
Deadline
Posted
As the leading patron of the arts in Asia, UOB is committed to promoting and enriching the development of ink art. In 2023, UOB China launched the inaugural UOB Art in Ink Awards Campus Edition and the Awards were elevated in 2024 by introducing a new Emerging Artist category and expanding the selection criteria, encouraging more artists to explore and express their interpretations of ink art. This reflects the Awards’ openness and sustainability. The Awards is a testament to UOB’s commitment to uncovering artistic talents and rejuvenating the cultural heritage of ink art.
The Awards invites the Art and Design Education FutureLab (FutureLab) as the strategic partner to provide professional advice and full support for the competition.
Young artists are warmly invited to register and participate in this Awards. Participation is free of charge, and the participant should submit the work via UOB and Art WeChat mini-programme.
Organization
Organizer: United Overseas Bank (China) Limited
Strategic Partner: Art and Design Education FutureLab (FutureLab)
Schedule
- Awards announcement: May 13, 2026
- Submission period: May 13 – July 13, 2026
- Shortlisting period: July 21–28, 2026
- Top 60 – Campus Talent category announcement and public voting: July 29–31, 2026
- Top 30 – Campus Talent category announcement and submission of portfolios: August 1–15, 2026
- Top 15 – Campus Talent category announcement, questionnaire and artwork transportation: mid-August 2026
- Shortlisted Emerging Artist category announcement and artwork transportation: September 2026
- Final judging: mid-September 2026
- Awards ceremony: October 2026
- Awards exhibition: October 2026–February 2027
Note: The specific date and venue of the exhibition will be confirmed later and announced by Organizer. Follow UOB’s official WeChat account to get the latest information about the Awards.
Requirements
- Submissions’ legality and copyright legislation
- Participants must comply with the relevant copyright legislation. All submission materials submitted for this award must be original works of the participant. The participant must also be the owner of all submitted materials.
- The artwork must not be offered for sale; promote illegal behaviour; support racial, religious, sexual, or other invidious prejudice; advocate sexual or violent exploitation; violate rights established by law or agreements; invade the privacy of any persons; or be otherwise disqualified by the Organiser in its sole and conclusive determination. Entries in violation of copyright or related offences will be disqualified. The participant shall bear full legal responsibility for their submissions. Any legal dispute is not related to the Organizer.
The Campus Talent category is open to all domestic and overseas tertiary students with the People’s Republic of China Resident Identity Cards or international students with valid tertiary education certificates issued by the General Office of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (including those who will graduate in 2026). Participants in the Campus Category are required to be at least 18 years of age. Participation is free of charge, and the participant should submit the work via UOB and Art WeChat mini-programme.
A panel of professional judges will nominate the Emerging Artist category candidates and is open to artists aged 40 or below holding a People’s Republic of China Resident Identity Card.
Each participant of Campus Talent category can submit three entries for the Awards. Each submission should consist of one artwork.
No medium restrictions and requirement for submissions of Campus Talent category
- Two-dimensional Artworks (maximum width of 180 centimeters): three to eight images of the artworks. All framed artworks should subject to a maximum width of 180cm. One image should be demonstrate how the artwork appears when displayed on a wall.
- Three-dimensional Artworks (maximum width of 180 centimeters, weight below 150 kilograms): three to eight images of the artwork that fully represent the form and details of the artwork. The maximum dimension of the original artwork should be subject to 180 centimeters, and the weight should be below 150 kilograms.
- Materials include bronze, iron, wood, stone, and stainless steel. Resin materials may be used for special needs, but fragile materials are limited.
- Mixed Media (includes installation artworks and video works): three to eight images or renderings that fully represent the form and details of the artwork. Note: The video should not exceed 30 minutes in duration and should be in MP4 or MOV format, with a file size below 100 megabytes. For artworks involving sound, light, electricity, AR, VR, etc., detailed information should be provided, including the names, models, power consumption, spatial requirements of the electrical equipment, and detailed installation plans and exhibition drawings.
The top 30 participants should be prepared to be able to send portfolios to the Organizer’s working email: info@ade-futurelab.com
All submitted artworks must be created solely by the hand of participant. Artworks cannot be generated or assisted by artificial intelligence (AI).