Turner Prize nominates neurodiverse and refugee artists

An artist of learning disabled, a former Iraqi refugee and one of the youngest nominees are among the preselected artists for this year’s Turner award.

Nnena Kalu, Mohammed Sami, Zadie XA and Rene Matić, who at the age of 27 is the second young artist who pays her after Damien Hirst, are in the race for the prestigious annual art award, the Tate announced Wednesday.

An exhibition of his work will be a hero at the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery from September as part of the celebrations of the city of Culture of the United Kingdom of Bradford.

The winner, who will receive £ 25,000, will be announced on December 9 at a ceremony in the city of West Yorkshire.

Alex Farquharson, director of Tate Great Britain and president of the jury of the Turner Award, said the short list “reflects the amplitude of artistic practice today, from painting and sculpture to photography and installation.”

He told BBC Radio 4 today that artists, which guarantee to receive £ 10,000, offer “extraordinary world views that are very personal.”

Take a closer look at the four preselected artists and their work:

Born in Glasgow Nnena Kalu (Above), which has limited verbal communication, has been a resident artist with action space, which supports artists with learning disabilities, for more than 25 years.

She creates abstract drawings and large -scale sculptures made of colorful fabrics and reused materials such as VHS reels.

The jury praised his “unique domain of material, color and gesture and his response highly tuned to architectural space.”

Photographer, writer and Rene MatićFrom Peterborough, it is nominated for individual exposure instead of truth in CCA Berlin, which touches the emergence of populism and right -wing identities.

Matić captures “the moments of joy in daily life and the expressions of tenderness within a broader political context”, chords for Tate, using intimate photos of family and friends placed in an installation that is also opposed as the artist’s collection in second -hand stores.

His work analyzes issues that include “the self built through the lens of rudeness” and the Rudeboy culture, a Jamaican subculture.

The jury said they were “surprised by the artist’s ability to express concerns about belonging and identity.”

Mohammed Sami It comes from Baghdad and his work is based on his life and experiences.

The artist is recognized by the individual exhibition after the storm at the Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, and the jury was impressed by his “powerful representation” of war and exile.

Its large -scale paintings explore memory and loss, placing patterns and colors to create “disturbing and dreamy scenes.”

Zadie XA It comes from Vancouver, Canada, and his work is inspired by his Korean heritage and the importance of shamanic beliefs.

Interweaving Paintings, Murals, Traditional Patchwork Textiles and 650 Brass That Make Harmonized Sounds Inspired by Korean Shamanic Ritual Bells, Xa’s Art Focuses on the Folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore, and folklore.

The jury felt that the “vibrant installation” was a “sophisticated development” or its work.

Established in 1984, the prize is named after the radical painter JMW Turner, who would have turned 250 years on Wednesday, and a British artist is awarded every year an “outstanding exhibition or other presentation of his work.”

Shanaz Gulzar, creative director Bradford Uk City of Culture 2025, said it was “a great honor and privilege” to bring the prize to the city that gave the world David Hockney.

“Bradford has produced some incredible artists, literary artists, visual artists, contemporary artists,” he told Radio 4.

“And to have four artists in Bradford, I think he really talks about how we are delivering our year so far, and speaks to our audience.”

Jasleen Kaur won last year’s award, who used a vintage Ford Escort, Worship Bells and Irn-Bru to celebrate the Siko Scottish community.

Other previous winners have included Sir Anish Kapoor (1991), Damien Hirst (1995) and Sir Steve McQueen (1999).