NNENA KALU ; AN EXTROORNARY ARTIST WINS TURNER PRIZE 2025

NNENA KALU

THE TURNER PRIZE 2025 BREAKS NEW GROUND

NAZLI KOK AKBAS ART EDITOR

GENEVA-SWITZERLAND

Nnena Kalu, Wrapping,Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery,the Artist and ActionSpace,2019, Photo credit Jules Lister

She won the 2025 Turner Prize for her hanging sculptures at Manifesta 15 in Barcelona, and for her energetic drawings exhibited in Liverpool. What makes the 2025 Turner Prize special is not Kalu's win, but what it represents. 

Nnena Kalu, Wrapping,Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery,the Artist and ActionSpace,2019, Photo credit Jules Lister

The Turner Prize has long been associated with pushing boundaries, and this year it took this further by affirming that powerful contemporary art is not defined by conventional training, academic language or neurotypical norms. Kalu's work speaks through instinct, repetition and presence. It demands to be felt, not decoded.

Nnena Kalu, Wrapping,Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery,the Artist and ActionSpace,2019, Photo credit Jules Lister

Nnena Kalu's victory is a meaningful reminder of the invisible labour that goes into inclusion. For years, ActionSpace provided steady support and championed her work, long before major institutions took notice.

Photo Courtesy for The Times Newspaper

This year, the Turner Prize recognises commitment and demonstrates how expanding access can enrich culture.

Congratulations, Nnena Kalu! Well deserved!

Nazli Kok Akbas, Art Editor, Geneva, Switzerland

© 2025 | Nazli Kok Art Reports. All text and images are protected under Swiss copyright law. Any reproduction or use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. For collaborations or content use, please contact me: nazlikokartreports@gmail.com

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