Tullie would really love to have families create part of a collaborative junk-model sculpture inspired by the work of recent Turner Prize winner Nnena Kalu – It’s joyful, bright and BIG with no rules. We’ll bring along lots of different interesting recyclable materials for people to decorate and build something wonderful for the day at Culture Bazaar. There will be some information and pictures of Nnena Kalu’s work so we can draw inspiration from that too.
David Gopsill, Simon Tatlock and volunteers from Tullie Museum & Art Gallery are looking forward to leading the workshop
Nnena Kalu made history as the winner of the 2025 Turner Prize, becoming the first artist with a learning disability to win the prestigious award. Known for large-scale, immersive sculptures created by binding and wrapping materials like VHS tape and fabric, Kalu’s work is characterized by vibrant colors and spiral forms, often finished on-site.
Key Details About Nnena Kalu’s 2025 Turner Prize Win
- Historic Achievement: She is the first artist with a learning disability and the first with limited verbal communication to win the award, marking a significant moment for neurodivergent artists.
- Artistic Style: Kalu creates “riotous and rhythmic” site-specific sculptures and drawings, described as massive, colorful, and cocoon-like structures made from wrapped ribbons, strings, and VHS tapes.
- The Exhibition: The 2025 Turner Prize exhibition featuring Kalu’s work was held at the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford, part of the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations.
- Process: Her work is often done while listening to music and is described as a “document of the process of making it”.
- Background: Since 1999, Kalu has been an artist in residence at ActionSpace, a London-based studio supporting artists with learning disabilities.
The 2025 jury, which included Tate Britain director Alex Farquharson, commended her “lively translation of expressive gesture into captivating abstract sculpture and drawing”.
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