Nnena Kalu, 59, has become the first artist with a learning disability to be awarded Britain's most prestigious contemporary art award, writes the BBC . The Scottish artist has autism, learning disabilities and limited verbal communication.
Glasgow-born Nnena Kalu is being praised for her “bold and compelling” sculptures and drawings, among other things. The jury praises Kalu’s colorful sculptures wrapped in layers of ribbon, string and shiny video tape, as well as her drawings of swirling, tornado-like shapes.
For the BBC, jury chairman Alex Farquharson emphasizes that her diagnosis did not affect them.
It's really about the power and quality of the work itself, regardless of the artist's identity.
The Turner Prize, named after the painter William Turner, has been awarded under the auspices of the Tate Britain art museum since 1984. The prize has previously gone to names such as Gilbert & George, Steve McQueen and Damien Hirst.
