Photograph: Izzy Hebb
In a landmark moment for Bradford’s City of Culture year, one of the UK’s most prestigious art awards, The Turner Prize, comes to the city for the very first time. The 2025 exhibition will be hosted at Cartwright Hall Gallery, inviting visitors to experience cutting-edge contemporary art from some of the UK’s most exciting artists — free of charge.
Produced by Bradford 2025 City of Culture in partnership with Tate, Bradford District Museums and Galleries, and Yorkshire Contemporary, this exhibition promises to be a major cultural highlight — not just for the city, but for the entire country.
Established by Tate in 1984, the Turner Prize is awarded to a visual artist born or based in the UK, recognising an outstanding exhibition or presentation from the past year. Named after the radical 19th-century painter JMW Turner, the prize was created to spark public interest and debate around contemporary art — something it continues to do more than 40 years on.
As ever, a panel of independent experts has selected four artists, with the winner receiving £25,000, and each shortlisted artist receiving £10,000.
Alongside the main exhibition, a full programme of events will bring the Turner Prize to life, from “thursday lates” which include pop-up performances, DJs, food, drink, talks, and workshops during special after-hours events, to curator tours, where you can join one of the co-curators for an insightful guided tour of the exhibition.
Zadie Xa and Benito Mayor Vallejo – Ghost 2025. Brass bells and bamboo string. Photograph: Izzy Hebb
Nominees
This year’s shortlisted artists are Nnena Kalu, Rene Matić, Mohammed Sami, and Zadie Xa.
Nnena Kalu
Kalu was Nominated for her work at Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, and Manifesta 15 in Barcelona, Kalu creates bold, abstract sculptures using repurposed materials such as fabric, VHS tape, and plastic. Her process-driven pieces — often completed in response to the exhibition space itself — resemble organic forms like nests or cocoons. Her vibrant use of colour, texture, and repeated gestures is both visceral and commanding, exploring the relationship between communication and the abstract.
Nnena Kalu – Hanging Sculpture 1-10, Various Materials. Photograph: Izzy Hebb
Rene Matić
Matić was recognised for the solo exhibition ‘AS OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH’ at CCA Berlin, Matić’s practice spans photography, sculpture, sound and textiles. Their work navigates themes of identity, community, and belonging. Defined by the context of a queer non-binary individual’s existence within a politically turbulent world. The jury commended Matić’s deeply personal yet widely resonant show.
Rene Matić – Feelings Wheel 2022-25, Inkjet ink on paper and glass. Photograph: Izzy Hebb
Muhammed Sami
Originating from Iraq, Muhammed Sami’s haunting, people-less paintings seen in ‘After the Storm’ at Blenheim Palace’ explores themes of memory, trauma and war. Often drawing from personal experiences of conflict and exile, Sami’s work is ambiguous yet emotionally charged, filled with subtle details that suggest deeper, more complex narratives. The jury praised his ability to evoke both familiarity and dislocation.
Muhammed Sami – On Air, Oil on Canvas 2024. Photograph: Izzy Hebb
Zadie Xa
Finally, in her collaborative installation with Benito Mayor Vallejo at Sharjah Biennial 16, Zadie Xa combines painting, sculpture, sound and textiles to weave a mythical world that bridges ocean life, ancestral memory, and Korean shamanism. Her multisensory work invites viewers to reflect on spirituality, ecology, and cultural identity, blending tradition with speculative imagination.
The arrival of the Turner Prize in Bradford during its City of Culture year is more than just a prestigious event — it’s a statement. It places Bradford at the heart of the UK’s cultural conversation and offers residents and visitors alike a chance to engage with contemporary art in new, dynamic ways.
Follow The State of the Arts for our in-depth review of the exhibition coming soon.
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The Turner Prize exhibition can be viewed for free at Cartwright Hall Gallery, Bradford from 27 September 2025 – 22 February 2026 and you can find out more information on the Bradford 2025 website.
The 2025 winner will be announced on 9 December, keep your eyes on our Instagram for the announcement.
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