Nnena Kalu, winner of the Turner Prize 2025, pictured in her exhibition at Cartwright Hall in Bradford, UK. | Photo: James Speakman/PA Media Assignments, Courtesy Tate.
Scottish artist Nnena Kalu who was awarded the 2025 Turner Prize, Britain’s most prestigious contemporary art award, marks a watershed moment in the visual arts world. The 59-year-old artist, known for her vibrant and tactile sculptures and expressive drawings, becomes the first artist with a learning disability to win the prize in its 41-year history.
Kalu, who was born in Glasgow and now lives and works in London, received the £25,000 ($33,000) award in front of an audience that included fellow nominees, critics, curators, and advocates for disability arts. The win crowns a career that has steadily gained momentum over the last decade as her work has been shown in major exhibitions across Europe and the UK.
Her winning submission to the 2025 Turner Prize consisted of two major bodies of work: a series of brightly coloured, cocoon-like hanging sculptures collectively titled Hanging Sculpture 1–10, commissioned by Manifesta 15 in Barcelona, and a group of large abstract works on paper presented as Drawing 21 in the exhibition Conversations at Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery. These pieces were both praised by the award jury for their bold use of colour, rhythmic repetition, and immersive presence.
Made from everyday and repurposed materials — including fabric, rope, card, VHS cassette tape, and ducting tape — Kalu’s sculptures transform humble elements into monumental forms that convey a sense of joyous uplift and physical energy. Her drawings, with their vigorous looping lines and bold gestures, echo the sculptural forms’ rhythmic motion in two dimensions.
In accepting the award, Kalu did not speak directly; instead, her longtime studio manager and artistic facilitator, Charlotte Hollinshead, delivered remarks on her behalf. Hollinshead described the win as “seismic,” highlighting the significance of Kalu’s achievement for artists with learning disabilities and neurodivergent creatives more broadly. “This award helps to smash the prejudice away,” she said, reflecting on Kalu’s long journey to recognition.
The jury, chaired by Alex Farquharson, Director of Tate Britain, lauded Kalu’s work for its “bold and compelling” qualities, noting the powerful presence of her sculptures and drawings and their masterful use of scale, composition, and colour. Farquharson emphasized that the award was given on the strength of the work itself while acknowledging the broader cultural importance of Kalu’s triumph.
Alongside Kalu, three other artists were shortlisted for the prize: painter Mohammed Sami, Korean-Canadian multimedia artist Zadie Xa, and photographer Rene Matić — each of whom received £10,000 and whose work is featured in the Turner Prize exhibition at Bradford’s Cartwright Hall Art Gallery through February 22, 2026.
The Turner Prize, established in 1984 and named after the British painter J.M.W. Turner, has a history of sparking debate and showcasing cutting-edge artistic practice. Recent winners include Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur in 2024 and internationally renowned figures such as Anish Kapoor and Steve McQueen in past decades.
Kalu’s win is already being hailed by advocates as a “historic” breakthrough that expands the possibilities of contemporary art and challenges entrenched assumptions about who gets to be recognized on the world stage. With her distinctive vision and innovative use of material, she has not only redefined the Turner Prize but also raised the profile of learning-disabled artists globally.
