Hiscox and the contemporary
Cecily Brown's Maids Day Off. Courtesy - Hiscox Art Collection
Hiscox is determined to create mental wellbeing at work by surrounding its employees with hand-picked works of art. The firm's offices around the world are enhanced with works of art that help to inspire staff as they go about their daily business or lunch in their work cafe.
It was during the 1970's that the Hiscox collection started to take shape. Shareholder.com reported that Robert Hiscox famously said 'Most of us have to sit through turgid meetings and to have an interesting thought-provoking picture to wonder at is a great time passer'.
The Hiscox Collection comprises approximately 1000 works by contemporary and international artists including Gilbert & George, Cornelia Parker, Vik Muniz, Damien Hirst, Alex Katz, Yto Barrada, Adam Pendleton and Michal Rovner to name but a few.
The current curator of the global Hiscox art collection, Whitney Hinzt, spoke at our recent 'Art, Investment and Cities' Forum in January, about the importance of not only owning contemporary art but sponsoring exhibitions - they are currently doing just that with the National Gallery, London.
Whitney showed us around some of the collection in their City of London offices and the pieces that energise the Hiscox environment.
The firm strongly believes that the art collection improves staff morale, but sees owning its collection as key to understanding and underwriting art.