Autistic Scottish artist Nnena Kalu wins UK’s Turner Prize

Scotland’s Nnena Kalu took home the Turner Prize on Tuesday, with the sculptor, who has autism, beating four competitors to the prestigious contemporary art award.

Glasgow-born Kalu, 59, was nominated for her hanging sculptures made of wrapped material including fabric, rope and tape, with British disability charity Sense hailing her shortlisting as “incredibly significant”.

Kalu was awarded the visual arts prize along with £25,000 (US$33,266) for her installation “Hanging Sculpture 1-10”, which Manifesta 15 Barcelona commissioned her to create at a disused power station, and her presentation in Conversations, a group exhibition at Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.

Her vividly coloured works are created from repeated lines and wrappings of different materials, making nest or cocoon-like forms.

The installation consisted of 10 large brightly coloured sculptures that hung from grey concrete pillars of the industrial site.

Meanwhile for Conversations, Kalu presented work in pen, graphite and chalk pen on two pieces of paper.