The European Investment Bank (EIB) has a collection of some 1000 works of art that encompasses more than 700 contemporary pieces ranging across all media: paintings, photographs, works on paper, sculptures, installations, time-based art and site-specific commissions. The development of the contemporary collection is based on a collecting policy designed to gradually create a distinctive long-term perspective on European contemporary art. The EIB tends to acquire art from emerging or newly established artists; some of the artists have since become widely recognised, or even iconic and internationally acclaimed such as Janis Kounellis, Anish Kapoor, Tony Cragg, Sean Scully and Olivier Debré.

The collecting policy requires works of art to have been produced after 1958, by an artist alive at the time of acquisition who comes from or resides in one of the EU Member States. The development of the collection remains a continuous process of renewal, reflecting changes in the EU and its art. The focus on acquiring from emerging artists emulates the EIB’s prudent and long-term perspective on financing, and its innovative character.

In recent years, efforts have been made to acquire artworks by socially-engaged artists, addressing pressing societal issues, ranging from climate, eco-feminism to the refugee crisis, post-colonialism and other topics.

About the European Investment Bank

The European Investment Bank is the lending arm of the European Union. We are one of the biggest multilateral financial institutions in the world and one of the largest providers of climate finance.

EIB and PAK 2024

For PAK 2024, the EIB will showcase its latest acquisitions alongside a selection of established talent and former artists in residence. These artworks, which span a variety of media and broad geographic representation, represent the next generation of EU artistic talent. Moreover, they reflect the EIB’s dedication to using art as a nexus for understanding, dissecting and addressing today’s most pressing societal issues.