Nnena Kalu wins Turner Prize 2025
Nnena Kalu has won the Turner Prize 2025, taking home the £25,000 award at a lively ceremony in Bradford, the UK’s City of Culture this year. Hosted by magician Steven Frayne (Dynamo) and broadcast live on BBC News, the prize celebrated four bold and imaginative artists whose work spans sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, sound, and installation. The Turner Prize exhibition at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery has already attracted over 34,000 visitors, underlining the public’s appetite for contemporary British art.
Turner Prize 2025. © James Speakman. PA Media Assignments.
Kalu was recognised for her striking hanging sculptures, crafted from a variety of wrappings to form cocoon-like shapes, and her large-scale, rhythmic drawings. The jury praised her ability to transform expressive gestures into captivating abstract work, highlighting her command of scale, colour, and composition. Fellow shortlisted artists Rene Matić, Mohammed Sami, and Zadie Xa also impressed with their innovative and diverse practices.
Installation view of Nnena Kalu’s presentation at the Turner Prize 2025, Cartwright Hall Art Gallery. Photo © David Levene.
One of the UK’s most prestigious visual arts awards, the Turner Prize encourages debate around contemporary art. This year’s exhibition, co-curated by Jill Iredale, Michael Richmond, and Sophie Bullen, runs until 22 February 2026. The prize is produced by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture with Tate, Bradford District Museums & Galleries, and Yorkshire Contemporary, and sponsored by Amplitude Event Solutions. In 2026, the Turner Prize will move to MIMA, Middlesbrough, promising another exciting year for British art.
