Turner Prize 2025 Shortlist Announced
A spoken-word performance reflecting life in the industrial north of England and sculptures exploring the political history of oil are among the shortlisted works for this year’s Turner Prize.
The nominated artists—Simeon Barclay, Kira Freije, Marguerite Humeau, and Tanoa Sasraku—will have their works exhibited in Middlesbrough later this year, with the winner revealed in December.
Jury chair Alex Farquharson said the shortlisted works offered "a compelling reflection of the breadth and vitality of contemporary British art".
Each shortlisted artist receives £10,000, while the winner is awarded £25,000.
Established in 1984, the Turner Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in visual arts, created to encourage public discussion of new developments in contemporary British art. Named after the painter JMW Turner, it is awarded annually to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or presentation of their work.
This year’s shortlisted works will be displayed at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Teesside University, with the winner announced there on 10 December.
Farquharson commented, "This year's selection presents a rich and diverse range of work that offer distinct perspectives through which to explore the world around us."
The Ruin by Simeon Barclay
Simeon Barclay’s work is an hour-long spoken-word performance drawing on his upbringing in Huddersfield and his experiences of the industrial landscape of northern England. The performance is accompanied by live percussion and horn music.
The jury praised Barclay's debut performance for its "exploration of Britishness, class, race and masculine identity, through an evocative, experimental use of language and a psychologically immersive soundscape."
Barclay is the only artist among the four whose work is based on live performance rather than sculpture. His topical content may position him to secure the first win for a spoken-word work since 2019.
Unspeak the Chorus by Kira Freije
Kira Freije creates sculptures using metal, fabric, and found materials that explore universal human emotions. Her works include stonecast faces and life-size figures constructed from bare metal armatures.
The jury highlighted the "emotional depth" of Freije’s work, noting its "unique sculptural vocabulary of materials and forms, as well as the haunting and expressive way she transformed the space through her arrangement of figures."
Freije’s anonymous and androgynous figures invite varied interpretations from viewers, but their striking and memorable nature is likely to impress judges with the artist’s distinctive style.
Torches by Marguerite Humeau
Marguerite Humeau’s installation examines the history of the earth and imagined future worlds through sculptures referencing specific natural species. The exhibition is accompanied by a looped cycle of light and sound.
The jury commended Humeau’s cinematic exhibition for its "engagement with ecological and existential themes through inventive forms, speculative scenarios and dynamic shifts in scale."
Unlike some other shortlisted works, Humeau’s installation does not adopt a human-centred perspective. Her science-fictional, mythical shapes may appeal to judges for their imaginative qualities.
Morale Patch by Tanoa Sasraku
Tanoa Sasraku’s installation explores geopolitical themes through object-like sculptures, focusing on recent political and military histories related to oil.
The jury praised the installation’s precision and sophistication, stating it "addresses complex historical issues with strong contemporary resonance, and its use of a clinical, minimalist display that conveys both irony and seriousness."
Given the current context of the Iran war and fluctuating oil prices, Sasraku’s work is notably topical. The judges may be influenced by the installation’s relevance and its clinical, corporate presentation style.
