Turner Prize 2025 – Nnena Kalu wins – a turning point for art for all
Britain’s top art prize award is creating headlines around the world…
HISTORY has been created with Britain’s top art prize – The Turner going to a learning disabled artist for the first time.
Nnena Kalu was presented with the prize – which carries a cash award of £25,000 at a glittering ceremony in Bradford – as part of the city’s Year of Culture events.
The Turner Prize exhibition continues in the city at its Cartwright Hall – www.asianculturevulture.com visited the Turner Prize exhibition just before it opened to the public this autumn. (See link below).
Magician Steven Frayne (formerly known as Dynamo) presented Kalu and longtime collaborator Charlotte Hollinshead with the prize at Bradford Grammar School – where one of Britain’s most famous artist David Hockney attended as a boy.
Alex Farquharson, director of Tate Gallery and chairman of the Turner Prize committee said that it was significant turning point for the way art/artists are seen.
“Learning disabled artists have not been properly recognised in the art world so this is part of a change,” he stated.
He also said: “She (Kalu) makes amazing abstract art, whirlpool-like; its expressiveness is enigmatic.”
Kalu has a range of work that is hard to categorise – she creates installations that hang from the ceiling and are rather like cocoons in appearance and made from discarded VHS video casette tape and fabric and other disused materials. They are colourful, curious and beautiful.
She also paints and these images are like whirling vortexes and display lines and patterns.
The prize goes to the artist for a show in the preceeding year. Kalu’s was for ‘Conversations’ at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and her display, ‘Hanging Sculpture 1 to 10’ at Manifesta 15 in Barcelona.
Tate said: “The jury commended Kalu’s bold and compelling work, praising her lively translation of expressive gesture into captivating abstract sculpture and drawing. Noting her distinct practice and finesse of scale, composition and colour, they admired the powerful presence these works have.”
Kalu was born to Nigerian parents who moved to London when she was young and is understood to be cared for in a supported living environment. She is autistic and has limited verbal communication.
Hollinshead has worked with Kalu since 1999 and Kalu is supported by the visual arts organisation ActionSpace which is based in South London.
Hollinshead described Kalu’s nomination (announced in the Spring) as a bomb thrown into the Turner Prize – it was the first time a learning disabled artist had even been nominated.
Kalu won the prize which also saw nominations for Iraqi-born painter Mohammed Sami, Korean-Canadian artist Zadie Xa and photographer Rene Matic. Artists must be based in Britain. These artists get £10,000 for being nominated.
Kalu was presented with her prize on Monday, December 9.
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The Turner Prize exhibition continues at Cartwright Hall Gallery until February 22 2026.
