Overview
- Kalu, a British-Nigerian artist born in Glasgow in 1966, becomes the first laureate with autism alongside a learning disability.
- Jurors praised her hanging, cocoon-like sculptures made from everyday materials, including VHS tape, and her large, rhythmic drawings for scale, composition and color.
- Jury chair Alex Farquharson said the selection rested on quality and described the win as erasing a long-standing barrier between neurotypical and neurodiverse artists.
- The £25,000 award was presented in Bradford during its UK City of Culture 2025 program, with the other shortlisted artists receiving £10,000 each.
- Studio manager Charlotte Hollinshead said Kalu has long faced discrimination and expressed hope the prize will counter prejudice and expand her audience.