The Standard Chartered art collection
Our world in pictures
Our art collection reflects who we are, a dynamic international bank with a long history and unique diversity of clients, colleagues, markets and office locations — dive in and explore our world.
Our diversity in art
The many faces of Standard Chartered
We pride ourselves on our unique diversity of markets, clients and colleagues — our art collection brings our identity to life through its many subjects and styles.
Featured works
The Art Connect
Much like our business, our art collection is constantly evolving, whether through acquiring news works, relocating works between markets or updating our principles we aim to embody our global connections through our portraits.
Our partnerships in art
An exhibition exploring the relationship between the east and west
Artistic exchanges from the 15th century. Cultural interactions that can still be felt today.
The Art Connect
The Standard Chartered art collection is a celebration of humanity. With a focus on people, it represents our colleagues, clients and communities and the connections that form between them. As a physical representation of our unique diversity our vibrant collection of portraits can be seen across our office footprint in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.
Step into our premises and look around, and you might spot a schoolboy at the start of his day, a couple attending a horse race in the rain, a mother with her children, or a bearded man playing his violin with delight.
These are just a handful of the many faces to be found along the corridors of our buildings around the world, brightening our office spaces and meeting rooms, and reminding us of who we are.
ABOUT OUR COLLECTION
Our corporate art collection consists of some 650 portraits, all of which are on display on the walls of our offices. We source our works from affordable art fairs, commercial galleries, portraiture competitions, and on the suggestion of colleagues.
Seen as a whole, our collection showcases the resilience and dynamism of people in the communities where we live and work. Bringing people, communities and businesses together through art and artistry.
(Top of the page) Lu Xi ©, A Beautiful Day at the Seaside, 2010
(Left) Tim Okamura ©, La Familia V, 2007
Curated pieces from across our footprint
Art in our spaces Curated pieces in our Asia office
Art in our spaces Curated pieces in our Africa offices
Art in our spaces Curated pieces in our Europe and Americas offices
Art in our spaces Curated pieces in our Middle East offices
Our diversity in art We want everyone to realise their full potential
Like the diversity of our clients, colleagues and markets, our collection of portraits ranges in expressions, subjects, genders, styles and artists
(Left) James Crowther ©, A Smile in the Hills, 2008
Our diversity in art We want everyone to shine
At Standard Chartered, we believe everyone should be able to realise their full potential and make a positive contribution. We’re a talented and committed workforce of more than 85,000 colleagues, representing 131 nationalities across more than 59 markets in which we operate.
This unique diversity is also reflected in our art collection, with portraits by more than 300 artists.
(Top of the page) Sarah Graham ©, Sunset View, 2011
FEATURED WORKS A reflection of the value we place in people
Seen in over 30 of our offices our art collection is a constant reminder to staff of the value we place in people. This dedication extends to the value we place in the artists of works in our collection and the communities they live and work in.
(Top of the page) David Noton ©, Women working in Paddy fields, Mekong Delta, Ben Tre Province, Vietnam, 1997
Featured artist: Marta Zawadzka
Polish artist Marta Zawadzka uses bold colour to explore the dynamics of modern life. Her work ‘Lena’ uses fluorescent paint and long-lasting dyes to captures a moment of tranquillity in a life that is constantly in motion.
Marta Zawadzka: ''I have a passion and obsession with colour. In my continual pursuit of all things beautiful, I find it in the balance between hues of vibrant colour. I am constantly in motion, the tapestry of life, travel and culture is where I gather my inspiration in abundance. I have a passion for the face and abstract portraits have become second nature to me. I inject light into my work by using fluorescent colours, the glow under UV light has the power to breath new life into my works, giving them an entirely new dimension. The process of painting for me is spontaneous, I avoid over-intellectualisation in my work and let my subconscious-self guide the brush until beauty emerges.''
Purchased in March 2020, ‘Lena’ formed part of our International Women’s Day celebrations as a representation of our commitment to gender equality across all industries.
(Left) Marta Zawadzka, Lena, 2019
Our partnerships in art
Working with those that support the arts
As one of the world’s leading museums, the British Museum is a popular attraction with a diverse and international audience and a collection that is representative of most areas of the world. We believe it’s our diversity that sets us apart – of our people, cultures and networks – which aligns with the British Museum’s globally inclusive offering.
About the inspired by the East Exhibition
Conceived and developed in collaboration with the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Inspired by the East: how the Islamic world influenced Western art includes generous loans from their extensive collection. The Bank has a long-standing relationship with the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia as sponsors of the Ottoman Room. The exhibition and collaboration highlights centuries of cultural exchange between East and West and its continuing importance today.
Hear and learn more about the exhibition
School of Veronese (1528–1588), A Portrait of Sultan Bayezid I. Oil on canvas, c. 1580. © Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.
Tracey McDermott, Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance, discussing Standard Chartered’s partnership with the British Museum.
School of Veronese (1528–1588), A Portrait of Sultan Bayezid I. Oil on canvas, c. 1580. © Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.
Tracey McDermott, Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance, discussing Standard Chartered’s partnership with the British Museum.
Philippe-Joseph Brocard, Gilt and enamelled glass mosque lamp, c. 1877. France © Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.
Sir Richard Lambert, Chairman, British Museum, explaining the importance of sponsorships.
Philippe-Joseph Brocard, Gilt and enamelled glass mosque lamp, c. 1877. France © Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.
Sir Richard Lambert, Chairman, British Museum, explaining the importance of sponsorships.
Frederick Arthur Bridgman (1847–1928), The Prayer. Oil on canvas, 1877. © Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.
Julia Tugwell, co-curator for "Inspired by the east: how the Islamic world influenced Western art" highlighting pieces from the exhibition.
Frederick Arthur Bridgman (1847–1928), The Prayer. Oil on canvas, 1877. © Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.
Julia Tugwell, co-curator for "Inspired by the east: how the Islamic world influenced Western art" highlighting pieces from the exhibition.
Banner credit: Alphons Leopold Mielich (1863 – 1929), The Pottery Seller. Oil on canvas, Austria, undated. © Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.
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