Acclaimed Prize Goes To Artist With Autism, Limited Verbal Communication

One of the most prestigious contemporary art awards in the world is for the first time going to an artist with a developmental disability.

Nnena Kalu, 59, was named the winner of the Turner Prize this week. The internationally known award is given annually to a British artist to honor their recent work in contemporary visual art.

Kalu has autism and a learning disability, which is known as intellectual disability in the U.S., and she has limited verbal communication.

“This is a major, major moment for a lot of people,” said Charlotte Hollinshead, head of artist development at ActionSpace, a London organization that supports artists with learning disabilities, in an acceptance speech on behalf of Kalu. “It’s seismic. It’s broken a very stubborn glass ceiling.”

Kalu makes large-scale drawings featuring rhythmic lines and she uses various materials like fabric, rope and VHS tape to create hanging sculptures in cocoon-like shapes. She has been a resident artist at ActionSpace since 1999.

Previous winners of the Turner Prize include Damien Hirst and Steve McQueen.

The award comes with a prize of £25,000, which is more than $33,000.