Nnena Kalu has just made history.

This is a monumental win, not just for her, but for the entire neurodivergent and Nigerian-diaspora artist community. Here is the feature article for ArtDeals.NG.

ArtDeals.NG – Nnena Kalu ‘Makes History’ by Winning Turner Prize 2025

BRADFORD, UK — In a night that will be remembered as a seismic shift in the landscape of contemporary art, the British-Nigerian artist Nnena Kalu has been crowned the winner of the Turner Prize 2025.

The announcement, made on December 9th at Bradford Grammar School, marks a historic “watershed moment.” Kalu, 59, has become the first artist with a learning disability to win the UK’s most prestigious art award, effectively shattering what her facilitators call a “stubborn glass ceiling” that has existed for decades.

A Victory of Pure Expression

Kalu’s work, currently on display at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford, captivated the jury with its raw, rhythmic energy. Her practice is defined by a ritualistic process of layering, binding, and wrapping. Using everyday materials—brightly colored cellophane, adhesive tape, recycled plastic, and even old VHS tapes—she creates massive, cocoon-like sculptures that pulse with life.

The jury, chaired by Tate Britain Director Alex Farquharson, was unanimous in praising the “powerful presence” and “finesse of scale” in her work. Farquharson noted that the win “begins to erase the border between the neurotypical and neurodiverse artist,” proving that great art transcends verbal communication.

From the “Outside” to the Pinnacle

Born in Glasgow to Nigerian parents, Kalu’s journey to the £25,000 prize has been a long one. For 25 years, she has been a resident artist at ActionSpace, a London-based studio that supports artists with learning disabilities.

For much of that time, her work was overlooked by the traditional art establishment. At the ceremony, her longtime artistic facilitator, Charlotte Hollinshead, spoke on her behalf, noting the years of discrimination Kalu faced. “Nnena was ready for this—the world just needed to catch up,” she said.

The ArtDeals.NG Perspective: Why This Matters

For platforms like ArtDeals.NG, Kalu’s victory is a powerful validation of the mission to democratize art.

• Biodegradable Materials: Much like our recent discussion on the use of plantain leaves in West Africa, Kalu’s use of found and recycled materials highlights a return to “earthy,” accessible mediums.

• Global Nigerian Excellence: As a woman of Nigerian heritage, her win adds another golden chapter to the global story of Nigerian creativity, proving that the Nigerian spirit of “making something from nothing” is a world-class aesthetic.

• The Power of Process: Her win shifts the focus from “high-concept academic art” back to the act of making. Her drawings, consisting of thousands of rhythmic, swirling lines, remind us that art is a fundamental human impulse.

What’s Next for Nnena Kalu?

The Turner Prize exhibition continues in Bradford until February 22, 2026. Following her historic win, demand for Kalu’s work is expected to skyrocket internationally. She has already opened a major institutional exhibition at Kunsthall Stavanger in Norway, signaling that her influence is now truly global.

As we celebrate this “Idol, Legend, and Winner,” ArtDeals.NG remains committed to showcasing the next generation of visionaries who, like Nnena, are proving that art has no boundaries.

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From Repurposed Tape to Global Fame

Kalu, 59, is celebrated for a process-driven practice that turns mundane materials into monumental statements. Her winning presentation featured:

• Hanging Sculptures: Massive, colorful forms created by binding and wrapping found fabrics, cling film, and magnetic VHS tape.

• Vortex Drawings: Large-scale works on paper consisting of vigorous, repetitive circular marks that document the artist’s physical movement.

The jury, led by Tate Britain Director Alex Farquharson, praised her “lively translation of expressive gesture into captivating abstract form,” noting that her work possesses a “powerful presence” that speaks for itself.

Breaking the “Stubborn Glass Ceiling”

Kalu, who is autistic and has limited verbal communication, has worked with the London-based studio ActionSpace since 1999. Her win is a victory over years of systemic exclusion.

Charlotte Hollinshead, Kalu’s long-term artistic facilitator who accepted the award on her behalf, told the audience: “This is a major, major moment. It’s broken a very stubborn glass ceiling… Nnena’s career reflects the long, often very frustrating journey we’ve been on together to challenge preconceptions about differently-abled artists.”

Why It Matters for the Diaspora

For the Nigerian-British community and platforms like ArtDeals.NG, Kalu’s triumph is a reminder of the raw, indestructible nature of creativity. Her work eschews “artspeak” and academic pretension, returning instead to the primal human impulse to build, layer, and create.

Farquharson noted that the win “begins to erase the border between the neurotypical and neurodiverse artist,” suggesting that the boundaries around contemporary art history are finally dissolving.

Where to See the Work

Kalu beat out a highly competitive shortlist including Rene Matić, Mohammed Sami, and Zadie Xa. The 2025 Turner Prize exhibition will remain open to the public at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford until February 22, 2026.