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Autistic artist Nena Kalu has been awarded the prestigious Turner Prize, with the win described as “long overdue” and “deeply deserved” by a disability charity.
The 59-year-old Scottish artist, who communicates with limited verbal expression, makes history as the first artist with a learning disability. prestigious awards, Which includes a prize of £25,000.
Stephanie Tyrrell, head of arts and well-being at Sense, underlined the profound significance of Kalu’s win. Tyrrell said, “Nena’s sculptures are huge, beautiful and very impressive. Now she is finally being celebrated on a national and international stage – and it is richly deserved and long overdue.”
He said Kalu’s success demonstrates “what people with disabilities can achieve when given opportunity and support,” urging that “talented disabled artists can no longer be ignored.”
Sense expressed hope that 2025 turner prize “There will be a new beginning, where many more disabled artists will be given a chance to shine.”
Kalu, resident artist at Actionspace’s studio, which supports artists with learning disabilities across London at Studio Voltaire, won over fellow shortlisted artists René Matic, Mohammed Sami and Zadie Za.
Actionspace, with whom Kalu has worked since 1999, celebrated her win, saying: “Her Turner Prize win is not only recognition of her extraordinary talent, it is also a celebration of what long-term, artist-centred support can make possible for artists with learning disabilities.”
Artist receives award for his installation hanging statue 1-10A piece commissioned by Manifesta 15 Barcelona for a disused power station, and his contribution to it ConversationsA group exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.
Known for his large-scale abstract drawings and hanging sculptures, Kalu was presented the award by magician Steven Frayne, formerly known as Dynamo, at a ceremony held in Bradford, the UK city of culture, this year.
The jury, chaired by Alex Farquharson, Director of Tate Britain, praised Kalu’s “bold and compelling work”, praising his mastery of scale, composition and colour, as well as the “lively translation of expressive gesture” evident in his abstract sculptures and paintings.
During the emotional awards ceremony, Kalu’s artistic facilitator, Charlotte Hollinshead, who assists her with communications, hailed her as a “superstar”, revealing that Kalu’s work is often set to disco music played “as loud as possible”.
Hollinshead spoke passionately about her “long, often very frustrating journey” to challenge preconceptions about differently-abled and learning-disabled artists, who she described as “an important creative community, so undervalued”.
She highlighted Kalu’s personal struggle: “Nena has faced an incredible amount of discrimination, which continues to this day, so hopefully this award will dispel that prejudice. Nena Kalu, you have made history.” Hollinshead playfully said that Kalu was “ready to accept her call from the palace to receive her maid,” as the artist blew a kiss to the audience.
The works of all four Turner Prize finalists are currently on display in a free exhibition at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford until 22 February. The Turner Prize 2026 is scheduled to be held at MIMA, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art. Previous recipients include sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor (1991), artist Damien Hirst (1995), and filmmaker Sir Steve McQueen (1999).