A Cambridgeshire-based artist who repurposes antique dolls for their artwork has been shortlisted for the prestigious Turner Prize 2025. Rene Matic, from Peterborough, was among the four artists announced at Tate Britain on April 23. The recognition comes for their first solo exhibition at a major institution, titled ‘As Opposed To The Truth’, which delves into themes such as right-wing populism and identity.
Matic, 27, joins three other London-based artists on the shortlist: Glasgow-born Nnena Kalu, Iraqi-born Mohammed Sami, and Canadian Zadie Xa. Matic’s work, praised by the jury for its exploration of “belonging and identity,” highlights the experiences of a younger generation and their communities. The exhibition features a range of media, including personal family photographs, sound elements, and installations such as those displayed at the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Berlin.
The artist’s Restoration series, which centers on antique black dolls salvaged by Matic, also caught the attention of the jury. The series includes a flag inscribed with quotes from political leaders who have spoken out against violence, inspired by the attempted assassination of US President Donald Trump.
Joining Matic in the Turner Prize race is Nnena Kalu, an artist born in Glasgow in 1966 and currently a resident at ActionSpace’s studio at Studio Voltaire, an organization supporting artists with learning disabilities across London. Kalu’s large-scale abstract sculptures and drawings use repurposed materials such as fabric, rope, and VHS tape reels. Her installation Hanging Sculpture 1-10, commissioned for Manifesta 15 Barcelona, was praised for its striking visual impact and response to architectural space.
Zadie Xa, 41, brings a unique perspective drawn from her Korean heritage, blending spiritual rituals, shamanism, and textile traditions in her work. Her exhibition Moonlit Confessions Across Deep Sea Echoes: Your Ancestors Are Whales—a collaboration with Spanish artist Benito Mayor Vallejo—was showcased at the Sharjah Biennial in the UAE. Xa’s piece includes sound elements inspired by the traditional Korean exorcism dance Salpuri and a mobile sculpture made of 650 brass bells.
Mohammed Sami, aged 40 and originally from Baghdad, is recognized for his powerful paintings that explore the intersection of reality and imagination, particularly focusing on the turmoil of war. His recent exhibition After the Storm: Mohammed Sami, shown at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, engaged with the history of Sir Winston Churchill’s birthplace and included references to conflict in Iraq.
The Turner Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the visual arts, is awarded annually to a UK-based artist for an outstanding exhibition or project. The winner will be announced later this year.
