Jasleen Kaur, a 38-year-old artist from Glasgow, has won the prestigious Turner Prize for her innovative exhibition “Alter Altar” at the Tramway contemporary arts venue. The award, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, comes with a £25,000 prize and was presented by actor James Norton at Tate Britain.
Kaur’s winning exhibition is a unique celebration of Scottish Sikh community culture, featuring an eclectic mix of objects including a vintage Ford Escort covered in a giant doily, worship bells, family photos, an Axminster carpet, and Irn-Bru. The judges praised her for her “considered way of weaving together the personal, political, and spiritual” and her ability to gather “different voices through unexpected and playful combinations of material.”
The artist, who grew up without cultural access to art institutions, expressed excitement about the award’s significance. She noted the overwhelming support from her local Sikh community, emphasizing that the visibility of such an achievement means a lot to different groups of people.
Kaur’s artistic background includes studying silversmithing and jewellery at Glasgow School of Art in 2008 and later at the Royal College of Art in London. Her previous work, including a short film called “Yoorop,” has explored cultural perspectives and been showcased at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The Turner Prize, established in 1984 and named after British painter JMW Turner, aims to promote public debate about contemporary British art. Kaur beat three other shortlisted nominees: Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, and Delaine Le Bas.
The exhibition judges highlighted how Kaur’s work explores cultural memory through objects and rituals, describing “Alter Altar” as a visual and aural experience that suggests solidarity and joy. Her installation animates everyday objects through sound and music, creating a powerful narrative about cultural inheritance.
The Turner Prize has a rich history of recognizing groundbreaking artists, with previous winners including notable names like Anish Kapoor, Steve McQueen, Gillian Wearing, and Grayson Perry. This year’s exhibition will run at Tate Britain until February 16, 2025.
In keeping with its tradition of expanding art accessibility, the prize will travel to Bradford next year as part of the 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations. This approach reflects the prize’s commitment to bringing contemporary art to wider audiences across the United Kingdom.
Kaur’s win represents not just a personal achievement but a moment of recognition for diverse artistic voices and cultural experiences, highlighting the evolving landscape of contemporary British art.
