Nnena Kalu Wins Turner Prize 2025 in Bradford
December 11, 2025Turner Prize Ceremony Held at Bradford Grammar School
The Turner Prize 2025 was awarded to British artist Nnena Kalu during a ceremony held at Bradford Grammar School on the evening of 9 December 2025. The event took place in Bradford, which is serving as the UK City of Culture for 2025, and was broadcast live on BBC News.
About the Winner and Work
Nnena Kalu was recognised for her work across multiple mediums including sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, sound, and installation. The jury highlighted her distinctive practice involving hanging sculptures made from wrappings of various materials that form cocoon-like shapes, alongside large-scale drawings characterised by vigorous, rhythmic lines.
The jury praised Kalu’s work for its boldness and compelling nature, noting the expressive gestures translated into abstract sculpture and drawing. They also commended her finesse in scale, composition, and colour, emphasising the powerful presence of her artworks.
Other Nominees and Exhibition Details
The other shortlisted artists for the 2025 Turner Prize were Rene Matić, Mohammed Sami, and Zadie Xa. The exhibition featuring all four nominees is being held at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford and will run until 22 February 2026. To date, the exhibition has attracted approximately 34,000 visitors.
Jury and Organisers
The Turner Prize 2025 jury consisted of:
- Andrew Bonacina, independent curator
- Sam Lackey, Director of Liverpool Biennial
- Priyesh Mistry, Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Projects, The National Gallery
- Habda Rashid, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Fitzwilliam Museum
The jury was chaired by Alex Farquharson, Director of Tate Britain.
The exhibition is co-curated by Jill Iredale, Curator at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery; Michael Richmond, Curator at Yorkshire Contemporary; and Sophie Bullen, Assistant Curator at Yorkshire Contemporary, for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
Background on the Turner Prize
Established in 1984, the Turner Prize is one of the best-known visual arts awards globally. It aims to promote public discussion around new developments in contemporary British art and is awarded annually to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or presentation of their work.
The 2025 prize was produced by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture in partnership with Tate, Bradford District Museums & Galleries, and Yorkshire Contemporary. It received support from The John Browne Charitable Trust and The Uggla Family Foundation and was sponsored by Amplitude Event Solutions.
Next year, the Turner Prize will be held at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA).
Event Presentation
The award ceremony was presented by magician Steven Frayne, also known as Dynamo.
