Autistic artist turns into first individual with a studying incapacity to win the Turner Prize
A Scottish artist has become the first person with a learning disability to win the coveted Turner Prize.
Known for her large-scale abstract drawings and hanging sculptures, Nnena Kalu took home the prize at an award ceremony this evening in Bradford, this year’s UK City of Culture.
The Glaswegian, 59, was awarded the visual arts prize along with £25,000 for her installation Hanging Sculpture 1-10, which Manifesta 15 Barcelona commissioned her to create at a disused power station, and her presentation in Conversations, a group exhibition at Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.
Her vividly coloured works are created from repeated lines and wrappings of different materials, making nest or cocoon-like forms.
The installation consisted of 10 large bright sculptures that hung from grey concrete pillars of the industrial site.
Meanwhile for Conversations, Kalu presented work in pen, graphite and chalk pen on two pieces of paper.
The jury, which was chaired by Alex Farquharson, the director of Tate Britain, commended Kalu’s ‘bold and compelling work’ and praised the ‘lively translation of expressive gesture’ in the abstract sculpture and drawing.
He added that her win was based purely on merit, saying: ‘The result wasn’t about wanting, first and foremost, to give the prize to Nnena as the first neurodiverse artist. That wasn’t a driving factor.
Pictured: The winner of the Turner Prize 2025, Nnena Kalu, in front of her exhibition at Cartwright Hall
Pictured: A person posing with an art installation Conversations by artist Nnena Kalu
The Glaswegian, 59, was awarded the visual arts prize along with £25,000 for her installation Hanging Sculpture 1-10
‘It was interest in, and a real belief in, the quality and uniqueness of her practice, which is inseparable from who she is.’
Charlotte Hollinshead, Kalu’s artistic facilitator, said: ‘It’s wonderful she’s finally getting the recognition she rightly, rightly deserves.’
Hollinshead also said that Kalu has faced discrimination for her learning disability, where she has limited verbal communication, which continues to this day.
‘Hopefully this award smashes that prejudice away,’ she said, before adding: ‘As Nnena is such a superstar, has worked so hard and has made history, she is ready to accept the call from the Palace about her Damehood.’
Kalu, who is a resident artist at ActionSpace’s studio which supports learning disabled artists across London at Studio Voltaire, beat fellow shortlisted artists, Rene Matic, Mohammed Sami and Zadie Xa.
The works by the four artists are currently available to see at a free exhibition at Bradford’s Cartwright Hall Art Gallery until February 22.
Named after British painter JMW Turner, this year’s prize marked the 250th anniversary of Turner’s birth.
Established in 1984, the Turner prize aims to promote debate on contemporary British art as well as recognising a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work, with the winner awarded £25,000 while the shortlisted artists take home £10,000.
Previous recipients include sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor (1991), artist Damien Hirst (1995), and filmmaker Sir Steve McQueen (1999).
The Turner Prize 2026 will be held at MIMA, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art.
