Turner Prize 2025 Exhibition

Featuring the Shortlisted Artists Opening

Our latest article for Harper’s Bazaar Japan covers the Turner Prize 2025 exhibition, which opened on 27 September at the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford. The Turner Prize, which has brought international recognition to artists such as Steve McQueen, Damien Hirst, and Tracey Emin, is regarded as one of the most important contemporary art awards in the world. Once again this year, four finalists have been selected, and the exhibition opened on 27 September in Bradford, England, offering an early look at their works.

Established in 1984 at the suggestion of then Tate Gallery director Alan Bowness, the Turner Prize has continually reflected the spirit of its time, sparking debate and propelling the next generation of artists onto the world stage. The prize takes its name from the painter J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851), whose radical approach to light and colour paved the way for modern abstraction.

For 2025, the exhibition at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery presents works by four artists selected for their outstanding practice over the past year. The winner will be announced on 9 December.

This year’s finalists are:

Mohammed Sami (b. 1984, Baghdad): Now based in London, Sami reconstructs his solo exhibition at Blenheim Palace to question the legacy of empire, war, and memory through painting.
Nnena Kalu (b. 1966, Glasgow): Working with recycled materials, Kalu creates sculptures and drawings defined by rhythm and repetition, transforming simple gestures into powerful, energetic forms.
Zadie Xa (b. 1983, Vancouver): Based in London, Xa draws on Korean folklore, shamanistic ritual, and ancestral narratives to produce immersive installations exploring identity and belonging.
Rene Matić (b. 1997, Peterborough): A non-binary artist whose work spans photography, sculpture, and text, Matić examines postcolonial Britain, queerness, and diasporic identity with sharp political insight.

The Turner Prize continues to highlight the diversity and complexity of contemporary artistic practice, inviting audiences to engage with urgent questions shaping culture today.

You can read my full article for Harper’s Bazaar Japan here.