The Tate has announced its shortlist for this year’s Turner Prize, featuring four artists who are pushing the boundaries of art with their unique perspectives.
The Tate has announced its shortlist for this year’s Turner Prize, featuring four artists who are pushing the boundaries of art with their unique perspectives. Among them is Nnena Kalu, a non-verbal neurodiverse artist from Glasgow, who has been a resident artist with Action Space for over 25 years.
Unconventional Expression
Kalu’s work is characterized by large-scale swirling abstract drawings and sculptures made from colorful streams of repurposed fabrics and materials such as reels of VHS tape. Her ‘unique command of material, color, and gesture‘ has been praised by the jury, who noted her ability to respond highly attuned to architectural space.
Exploring Identity and Belonging
The other nominees include Rene Matić, a photographer from Peterborough who explores themes of belonging and identity through his work. His installation, ‘As Opposed To The Truth,’ touches on the rise of right-wing populism and features intimate photos of family and friends placed alongside objects like children’s black dolls.
A Spiritual Realm
Zadie Xa, a Canadian artist from Vancouver, draws inspiration from her Korean heritage and shamanic beliefs. Her work interweaves paintings, murals, traditional patchwork textiles, and 650 brass bells that make harmonized sounds inspired by Korean shamanic ritual bells. The jury praised the ‘vibrant installation‘ as a sophisticated development of her work.
A Celebration of Diversity
The winner of the Turner Prize will be announced on December 9th and will receive £25,000. This year’s nominees reflect the breadth of artistic practice today, from painting and sculpture to photography and installation. The prize is named after JMW Turner, who would have turned 250 on Wednesday.
‘Bradford has produced some amazing artists,’ said Shanaz Gulzar, creative director Bradford UK City of Culture 2025. ‘And to have these four artists in Bradford, I think really speaks to how we’re delivering our year so far, and it speaks to our audiences.’
