A Belfast School of Art (BSoA) graduate is one of four nominees announced by Tate ahead of the 2025 Turner Prize. Mohammed Sami, now based in London, has been nominated for his solo exhibition 'After the Storm’ at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.
First awarded in 1984, the Turner Prize is known as one of the foremost accolades for contemporary artists in the UK. In the same year the first Turner Prize was awarded, Sami was born in Baghdad, Iraq. Having completed studies in drawing and painting at the Institute of Fine Arts, Baghdad in 2005, Sami graduated from BSoA in 2015 and earned an MFA at Goldsmiths College, London, in 2018.
Known for his large-scale paintings which explore memory and conflict, Sami’s paintings contain haunted, dreamlike scenes. Devoid of people, he paints empty landscapes, interiors and items of furniture that reference conflict whilst encouraging viewers to search for their own meaning. The jury praised the artist’s powerful representation of war and exile, exhibited against the backdrop of Blenheim Palace.
The Turner Prize was founded by the Patrons of New Art under the directorship of Alan Bowness. They formed to encourage wider interest in contemporary art and assist Tate in acquiring new works. They felt that Britain should have its own award for visual arts, an equivalent to the Booker Prize.
The other nominees for the Turner Prize 2025 are Nnena Kalu, Rene Matić and Zadie Xa. An exhibition of their work will be held at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery from 27 September 2025 to 22 February 2026 as a major moment in the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations. The winner will be announced on 9 December 2025 at an award ceremony in Bradford.
Dr Brian Dixon, Head of Belfast School of Art, commented:
“The Belfast School of Art is thrilled with Mohammed Sami's nomination, which sees him join an esteemed list of our alumni who have achieved this incredible recognition. We are really proud to be part of his story and delighted that his work will be acknowledged within this global context.”
