The art world descended on a Bradford gallery this week as the city prepares to host one of the world’s most prestigious art prizes.
Cartwright Hall in Lister Park is hosting this year’s Turner Prize, and on Tuesday opened its doors to the national and international art media ahead of the exhibition opening to the public on Saturday.
The exhibition, which runs until February, is expected to attract over 100,000 people to the Bradford Council run gallery, and will be one of the biggest City of Culture events.
The creative director of City of Culture says the exhibition is a huge coup for the city, and that it meant the people of Bradford could see the best is British art without having to travel to London.
It is the first time the awards have come to West Yorkshire.
Each of the four finalists are showcased in a different section of the 120-year-old gallery, with pieces ranging from immersive light and sound installations to more traditional paintings.
Among those attending Tuesday’s press event were representatives of Harper’s Bazaar, the Spectator, Financial Times, Channel 4 News, Dazed Magazine, podcasters, bloggers and even a representative of the Japanese edition of Harper’s Bazaar.
Many had travelled from London to view the exhibition, and this year’s shortlist has already been reviewed by The Guardian, The Times and The Independent.
The four finalists are Nnena Kalu, Rene Matic, Mohammed Sami and Zadie Xa, and the winner will be announced at a ceremony at Bradford Grammar School in December.
Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director for Bradford 2025, told the crowd that hosting the Turner Prize was an “incredibly important part of City of Culture.”
She added: “Audiences will find something for themselves. We’ve got the best of Great British art here in Bradford – the people of the city don’t have to travel three hours to see it. To see it here on their doorstep is incredibly powerful.”
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the significance of the event to the year long celebration, she said: “This is one of the big ones.
“It is free access to the best of Great British art.”
Referring to the fact that the award can sometimes divide opinions, she said: “Audiences will make their own mind up about it – that’s what art is.
“All four artists are so different, I believe there is something for everyone from babies to older generations.”
Referring to the national and international spotlight City of Culture has brought the District she added: “I think we’ve come out of it really well – people in Bradford are proud and self-deprecating, but we don’t always see how great Bradford is.”
“It is a place that should be celebrated. Bradford is a bit like a Russian Doll, you open it up and you find something else inside.
“That is the importance of this year, it is telling our stories and re-writing our narrative.
“This is such a beautiful venue for the award, in a beautiful park.”
Helen Legg, Director of Tate Liverpool, helped organise the exhibition and said: “It is so important that the Turner Prize moves around the UK, and it increases its reach every year.
“Artists are given a really significant platform and communities around the country are given an opportunity to see the latest developments in contemporary arts on their doorstep.”
She said discussions about holding the prize in Bradford dated back to 2022.
Nnena Kalu’s work is some of the most striking in the exhibition. The room showcasing the artist features bizarre abstract sculptures resembling living creatures and wrapped in ribbon, tape, rope and – in some cases – the tape from discarded VHS cassettes.
The hanging sculptures are surrounded by drawings created from continuous repeated lines.
Zadie Xa’s striking gallery reflects her Korean and Canadian background. At the centre of the gallery hangs hundreds of bells in the shape of a shell.
Artwork reflecting sea life is installed on the walls, and each corner of the room features a hanging shell, each of which plays a different soundscape. One features the voice of a woman burned out on modern life, who bemoans her social media feed being “full of Labubus and war crimes.”
The floor is reflective, giving the impression that the audience is walking on water.
Rene Matic’s gallery features sound, photography and fabric installations to explore themes of identity, relationships and political hypocrisy. The centre of the exhibition is a large flag that features the words “No Place” on one side and “For Violence” on the other.
Mohammed Sami’s paintings are, on the face of it, the most traditional pieces of art in the exhibition. The images mix nature and the destruction of war, and toy with the idea of memory.
The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, and runs until 22 February.
Tickets are free, but need to be booked by visiting: https://bradford2025.co.uk/programme/turner-prize-2025/
