With art exhibitions being increasingly sponsored by financial institutions, Swiss private bank Mirabaud is supporting an exhibition dedicated to Henri Matisse entitled “Matisse 1941-1954.”

Mirabaud is backing an art exhibition dedicated to Henri Matisse entitled “Matisse 1941-1954,” presented at the Grand Palais in Paris while the Centre Pompidou undergoes renovation. The exhibition runs from 24 March to 26 July 2026, offering visitors the opportunity to rediscover his work.

‘”Henri Matisse’s work reflects an independence of thought and inventiveness that deeply resonates with our values,” Lionel Aeschlimann, senior managing partner of the Mirabaud Group, said. “With its long-standing roots in Paris, Mirabaud is proud and honoured to be able to support the Centre Pompidou in presenting this major exhibition at a key moment in its history.”

Art exhibitions are being increasingly sponsored by financial institutions such as the Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of America and Deutsche Bank to enrich people's lives and to help communities prosper.

“Our partnership with the Centre Pompidou illustrates our belief that art plays an essential role in broadening horizons and transforming perspectives. It is fully in line with the spirit of innovation and independence that has driven our firm for more than two centuries,” Stéphane Jaouen, head of Mirabaud Wealth Management France, added.

“Art plays an essential role in our society: it invites us to look at the world differently and to question our certainties,” Aeschlimann continued. “This spirit of openness is at the heart of our commitment. We want to support exhibitions that mark their era, broaden perspectives and can be shared with the widest possible audience.”

Committed for several decades to promoting contemporary art, Mirabaud supports artists by acquiring works for its collection, as well as numerous institutions, galleries and exhibition venues. In addition to the Centre Pompidou, the group is a founding member and partner of the MAMCO in Geneva, and supports numerous international institutions, such as the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Bechtler Foundation in Uster, the Quartier des Bains and the Geneva Lux Festival in Geneva, and the Fundacion Cerezales Antonino y Cinia in Spain.

The Mirabaud own contemporary art collection comprises more than 400 works by emerging and established international artists, spanning painting, sculpture, and photography. While RBC’s art collection consists of more than 5,500 works in over 30 locations across Canada, and key locations globally. The collection's acquisitions focus on the work of emerging artists, with select acquisitions by mid-career and senior artists. Each year, the RBC Foundation also donates millions of dollars to hundreds of global arts organisations to give more help to emerging artists to establish their careers.

Art as an alternative investment

With people increasingly viewing art as a viable form of alternative investment, the appetite for art as an asset class has also risen among high net worth individuals in recent years, partly in response to the instability in financial markets. Buying art also allows firms or individuals to make tax savings.

The Bank of America, for instance, has recently launched an art consulting service for private bank and Merrill clients, highlighting that the fine art market remains an important business area for HNW and ultra-HNW clients.

The global art market also returned to growth in 2025, with sales increasing by 4 per cent year-on-year to an estimated $59.6 billion, according to the tenth edition of The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report 2026. The US remained the largest market with a 44 per cent share, followed by the UK at 18 per cent and China at 14 per cent. France increased its global share by one percentage point to 8 per cent, consolidating its position as the fourth largest market and the largest within the EU, the report reveals. See more here and here.