Protecting the precious and unique is not only about risk and insurance for us at AXA. We are passionate and committed to the arts and this is deeply felt in our corporate culture and identity.
Since 2004, we have looked forward to participating in TEFAF Maastricht every year. Its focus on fine art, antiques and historical masterpieces that span seven thousand years of history sets it apart from other international art fairs. For visitors experiencing this broad display of human creativity, the fair reminds us how artists have always drawn from the past while holding a mirror to the present and imagining the future.
This commitment also encapsulates AXA’s motivations for supporting numerous art-related organisations and events, either as a commercial sponsor or via our corporate philanthropy. Whatever form it takes, our underlying passion for art compels us to help preserve shared cultural heritages, enable cultural exchanges, and support emerging artists, some of whom will leave legacies that inspire future generations.
Surrounded By Art
AXA’s enduring interest in art perhaps derives from being based in Paris. Not only are we surrounded by centuries-old emblems of cultural achievement, but our corporate headquarters are situated in the heart of a “golden triangle” of art galleries and auction houses; Sotheby’s, for instance, is one of our neighbours. Here, in our offices along Avenue Matignon in Paris’ 8th arrondissement, everyone from our senior leaders to the newest trainee experiences masterful paintings, sculptures, and architecture daily.
The complex comprises several structures, including the Hôtel de La Vaupalière, an 18th-century building decorated in the style of the period. Its furnishings include exceptional pieces by André-Charles Boulle, the renowned French cabinetmaker celebrated for his innovative marquetry techniques, and Georges Jacob, who created elegant, finely crafted furniture that adorned the royal courts and aristocratic homes of his time. These and other historical artefacts are housed in a newly refurbished glass case built by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill.
A more contemporary aesthetic is found in the newly renovated buildings that make up the rest of the complex. These spaces were designed to foster well-being, innovation, and a shared purpose among our global team. They also are adorned with modern and contemporary art from AXA’s corporate collection, including Sam Francis’ remarkable abstract impressionist paintings, currently on display in our lounge here at TEFAF Maastricht. Whenever I pass by them in the office, I always marvel at the luminous voids he left uncovered and how this contrast between vibrant colour palettes and austere patches of white highlights the relationships of these forms. If you happen to see these twin canvases while attending the fair, I hope you are similarly moved by his work.
Safeguarding Cultural Heritages
David Rockefeller, a trailblazing advocate for integrating art into the corporate environment, believed that surrounding employees with artwork fosters intellectual stimulation and cultural engagement. If Rockefeller were to drop by AXA’s Avenue Matignon offices today, I expect he would find ample validation for his beliefs. And I think he would be heartened to observe how the ethos nurtured by these settings informs AXA’s wide-ranging commitments to safeguarding cultural heritages.
Most notably, AXA joined the outpouring of solidarity after Notre Dame was ravaged by fire in 2019. In addition to a financial contribution, AXA insured two of the contracting firms involved in the restoration effort. We also covered relics and religious artworks housed within Notre Dame, ensuring their protection during the project. Five years later, the image of the spire breaking on the burning timber frame is just a bad memory, and this iconic monument has regained its splendour. The cathedral, with its cleaned stone walls, newly vibrant stained-glass windows, and refurbished chapels, is, once again, genuinely magnificent.
The Château de Versailles is another historic site where AXA’s contributions helped ensure that a priceless cultural heritage remains intact and accessible. We were the primary benefactor of the project that restored Madame Du Barry's apartment; it is one of the most refined ensembles within the former royal residence, offering insights into Louis XV's intimate Versailles. AXA also helped finance the restoration of the Salle du Sacre and its painted decorations, as well as the acquisition of several historical objects, including the desk delivered to King Louis XIV in 1685 by Alexandre-Jean Oppenordt.
Facilitating Creative Exchange
Restoring iconic cultural sites like Notre Dame and the Château de Versailles ensures that they remain sources of inspiration and education. Supporting various artistic communities, on the other hand, helps add vitality and energy to our modern arts ecosystem.
Take, for example, Villa Albertine, a new French cultural institution facilitating creative exchange between France and the United States. Headquartered in New York City, Villa Albertine fosters innovation in the arts, literature, cinema and more by hosting residencies, events, and collaborative projects. Unlike traditional cultural outposts, Villa Albertine offers a nationwide presence, with residencies and programs in several U.S. cities, thus enabling deep engagement with local communities and cultural ecosystems. AXA is proud to be one of its founding partners.
In 2024, AXA also became a grand mécène (major patron) of the Festival d'Avignon and La FabricA. The Festival d'Avignon is one of the world's most renowned performing arts festivals, held annually in Avignon since 1947. It features a rich program of theatre, dance, music, and other performing arts, attracting renowned international artists and audiences from around the globe. Performances are held in iconic venues, including the historic Cour d'Honneur of the Palais des Papes.
La FabricA opened in 2013 as a key project associated with the Festival d'Avignon. Conceived as a space for artistic creation and experimentation, La FabricA is a permanent venue where artists can develop and refine their work in collaboration with the festival. Located on the outskirts of Avignon, it embodies the festival's commitment to nurturing artistic talent and supporting the creative process year-round.
Promoting Emerging Talent
Ever since the mid-20th century when abstraction became ascendent, the notion that "figurative painting is dead" has been a recurring sentiment. However, Francis Bacon, Alice Neel, Philip Pearlstein, Alex Katz, Chuck Close, Wayne Thiebaud and others would beg to differ—as would AXA. As much as we admire Sam Francis and his peers, AXA decided to focus on figurative painting, drawing and printmaking in the two annual competitions we sponsor for undergraduate and graduate art students.
The AXA Art Prize U.S. was launched in 2018 in partnership with the New York Academy of the Arts, and the AXA Art Prize UK was introduced in 2023 with the Royal Academy of the Arts. The forty shortlisted works in each country are displayed in public exhibitions in New York and London, respectively. The first- and second-prize winners are selected by panels of influential art curators, critics and working artists. Along with the exposure and recognition, the first- and second-prize winners receive monetary prizes of $/£ 10,000 and $/£ 5,000.
Will this nod to figurative art help it reclaim its former status as the preeminent art form? Considering the diverse stories artists are telling today via different media—including video, animation, found objects and interactive installations—that seems unlikely. Nevertheless, figurative art offers a compelling medium for today’s young artists to tell powerful stories about, for example, inequality, social justice, and the urgent need to create more sustainable societies.
AXA has partnered with TEFAF since 2004 as Lead Partner for the Maastricht fair, and now, twenty-one years later, we are proud to be its Global Lead Partner. For gallerists and collectors, AXA’s art-related activities are investments in the future of art. By partnering with different players within the arts ecosystem to safeguard collections, advance conservation science, support cultural institutions and foster dialogue, AXA aims to help preserve, innovate, and celebrate the art that defines humanity.
