Nnena Kalu becomes first artist with a learning disability to win Turner prize

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Lanre Bakare Arts and culture correspondentDecember 9, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Nnena Kalu becomes first artist with a learning disability to win Turner prize

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Nnena Kalu won the 2025 Turner Prize for her vibrant drawings and sculptures made from found materials, marking the first time an artist with a learning disability has received the prestigious £25,000 award. The British-Nigerian artist's work, described as colorful and cocoon-like, impressed the judging panel. Alex Farquharson, chair of the jury, noted the win as a watershed moment, dissolving boundaries between neurotypical and neurodiverse artists. Kalu's studio manager, Charlotte Hollinshead, accepted the award on her behalf, highlighting the discrimination Kalu has faced. The Turner Prize, awarded annually to a British-based artist for outstanding work, recognized Kalu's unique artistic expression and contribution to contemporary art.

Keywords

nnena kalu 100% turner prize 100% learning disability 90% neurodiversity 80% contemporary art 70% art world 60% sculptures 60% discrimination 50% british-nigerian artist 50% autistic artist 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Positive
Score: 0.80

Source Transparency

Source
The Guardian - World News
Political Lean
Center-Left (-0.40)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

Topic Connections

Explore how the topics in this article connect to other news stories

No topic relationship data available yet. This graph will appear once topic relationships have been computed.
Explore Full Topic Graph