In a historic moment for contemporary art, Nnena Kalu has been named the winner of the 2025 Turner Prize. The announcement was made during a ceremony at Bradford Grammar School, marking a major milestone for the artist and the UK’s City of Culture celebrations.

Kalu, who is neurodivergent and has worked with the London-based studio ActionSpace since 1999, is the first artist with a learning disability to receive the prestigious award. Her victory is being celebrated as a landmark shift in the art world toward recognizing diverse ways of making and thinking.

A Powerful Display of Material and Movement

The jury, chaired by Tate Britain Director Alex Farquharson, chose Kalu from a shortlist of four artists, including Rene Matić, Mohammed Sami, and Zadie Xa. Kalu’s winning presentation at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery captivated audiences with its raw energy and physical scale.

Her work is characterized by:

• Layered Sculptures: Massive, cocoon-like structures created by wrapping and binding materials like VHS tape, colorful yarn, plastic wrap, and parcel tape.
• Gestural Drawings: Large-scale works featuring repetitive, vortex-like marks that translate the physical rhythm of her movements onto paper.

The jury praised Kalu’s “arresting sculptural language,” noting how her work transforms everyday materials into “vibrant, expressive forms” that pulse with life.

Breaking Barriers in Contemporary Art

Born in Glasgow in 1966 to Nigerian parents, Kalu communicates primarily through her art. Her process is often site-specific, where she responds intuitively to the architecture of the gallery space.

By awarding Kalu the £25,000 prize, the jury highlighted the importance of artists whose contributions have historically been overlooked by the mainstream. Supporters of the artist noted that this win “smashes a glass ceiling,” proving that neurodivergent artists are not just “outsiders” but central figures in the evolution of modern abstraction.

Visiting the Exhibition

The Turner Prize 2025 exhibition has already welcomed over 34,000 visitors. For those who haven’t seen it, the showcase of all four shortlisted artists will remain open at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford until February 22, 2026.

In 2026, the prize is set to travel to MIMA in Middlesbrough, continuing its tradition of sparking public debate about the future of British art.