British Artist Nnena Kalu Wins Turner Prize 2025
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Nnena Kalu. Turner Prize 2025. Photo © James Speakman: PA Media Assignments
Kalu, of Nigerian origin, is the first person with a learning disability to win the prestigious prize
British artist of Nigerian descent, Nnena Kalu, has won the Turner Prize 2025. She was announced as the winner of the £25,000 prize at a ceremony at Bradford Grammar School on December 10. According to a press release, the ceremony was presented by magician Steven Frayne, formerly known as Dynamo, in Bradford, this year’s UK City of Culture, and broadcast live on BBC News.
Kalu was born to Nigerian parents in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1966. She is known for her drawings and sculptures; the latter, especially, made of draperies. According to cnn.com, Kalu is the first person with a learning disability to win the prize.
According to the Turner Prize press release, the jury awarded the prize to Nnena Kalu, who creates hanging sculptures from wrappings of different materials making cocoon-like shapes, as well as large-scale drawings made with vigorous, rhythmic lines. 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.
The jury congratulated all four nominees for their unique and bold presentations, offering an insight into contemporary art today. Besides Kalu, the other shortlisted artists for 2025 were: Rene Matić, Mohammed Sami and Zadie Xa. Working across sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, sound and installation, this year’s nominees each reflect their diverse practices and broad experience in compelling ways, the release stated. The Turner Prize 2025 at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford has attracted 34,000 visitors to date.
One of the best-known visual arts prizes in the world, the Turner Prize aims to promote public debate around new developments in contemporary British art. Established in 1984, the prize is awarded each year to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work.
The members of the Turner Prize 2025 jury were Andrew Bonacina, independent curator; Sam Lackey, Director, Liverpool Biennial; Priyesh Mistry, Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Projects, The National Gallery; and Habda Rashid, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Fitzwilliam Museum. The jury is chaired by Alex Farquharson, Director, Tate Britain.
The exhibition of the four shortlisted artists is at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford, until 22 February 2026. It is co-curated by Jill Iredale, Curator, Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Michael Richmond, Curator, Yorkshire Contemporary, and Sophie Bullen, Assistant Curator, Yorkshire Contemporary, for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
In 2026, the prize will be held at MIMA, Middlesborough.