Tate Britain has announced Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, Jasleen Kaur, and Delaine Le Bas as the shortlisted artists for this year’s Turner Prize, among the most prestigious awards in contemporary art. An exhibition of their work will open on September 25th and run through February 16, 2025, at the Tate Britain—the first time in six years it has been hosted at the Central London museum. The shortlist reflects the diversity of Britain’s contemporary art scene: three out of four are women artists, and all are from marginalized communities.
“All four of them make work that is full of life. They show how contemporary art can fascinate, surprise, and move us, and how it can speak powerfully of complex identities and memories, often through the subtlest of details,” said Alex Farquharson, director of Tate Britain and chair of the Turner Prize jury. “In the Turner Prize’s 40th year, this shortlist proves that British artistic talent is as rich and vibrant as ever.”
Pio Abad is nominated for his solo exhibition “To Those Sitting in Darkness,” which is open until September 8th at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. The artist’s drawings, etchings, and sculptures explore themes of cultural loss and colonial histories that reflect his upbringing in the Philippines.
Claudette Johnson is nominated for her solo exhibition “Presence” at the Courtauld in London, which closed in January. A founding member of the 1980s Black British Art movement, Johnson is noted for her pastel, gouache, and watercolor portraits of Black women and men. The artist was also nominated for her solo show “Drawn Out” at Ortuzar Projects, New York, which concluded last April.
Jasleen Kaur is nominated for her solo exhibition “Alter Altar,” which closed last October at the Tramlines in Glasgow. The artist uses everyday objects such as her family’s belongings and a vintage Ford Escort to create sculptures that, in the show, were animated by sound compositions.
Delaine Le Bas is nominated for her presentation “Incipit Vita Nova. Here Begins The New Life/A New Life Is Beginning” which ran until last September at Secession, Vienna. In the show, Le Bas transformed the gallery into an immersive performance environment that features painted fabrics, costumes, and sculptures, drawing on the history of the Roma people, combined with an interest in mythologies, and addressing loss and renewal, spurred by the death of her grandmother.
The winner of the Turner Prize will be announced on December 3rd at the Tate Britain, and the winner will receive £25,000 (around $31,000), with £10,000 awarded to the other shortlisted artists. Previous winners of the prize have included Lubaina Himid, Oscar Murillo, and Veronica Ryan.
