Leeds School of Arts alumnus shortlisted for Turner Prize 2026

Simeon Barclay, a Fine Art graduate of Leeds School of Arts, has been shortlisted for the Turner Prize 2026 – and one of the most celebrated prizes in the contemporary art world. The announcement was made by Tate Britain, which administers the prize, on 20 April.

Barclay has been nominated for The Ruin, a debut hour-long spoken word performance commissioned by the Roberts Institute of Art and also presented at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London, The Hepworth Wakefield and New Art Exchange in Nottingham.

Drawing on his upbringing in Huddersfield and his lived experience of northern England's industrial landscape, the performance features live percussion and horn accompaniment and uses experimental language and an immersive soundscape to explore themes of Britishness, class, race and masculine identity.

The Turner Prize jury praised the work for its “evocative, experimental use of language and a psychologically immersive soundscape”, noting its exploration of identity through a debut performance of significant ambition and depth.

Since graduating from Leeds Beckett in 2010, Barclay has established himself as a significant voice in contemporary British art, exhibiting at venues including Tate Britain, the ICA and Yorkshire Sculpture Park. He returned to Leeds Beckett three years ago as a guest lecturer at the Yorkshire Sculpture International Symposium, sharing his practice and experience with current students.

Julia Kelly, Course Director for BA & MA Fine Art, said: “Simeon Barclay is a true inspiration to our Fine Art student community: a unique talent in the contemporary art world whose category-defying practice reflects our commitment to innovative and engaging art works for a wide range of audiences.”

Barclay is one of four artists shortlisted for the 2026 prize, alongside Kira Freije, Marguerite Humeau and Tanoa Sasraku. An exhibition of all four shortlisted artists' work will be held at Teesside University's MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art) from 26 September 2026 to 29 March 2027. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony at MIMA on 10 December 2026 and will receive £25,000, with £10,000 awarded to each of the remaining shortlisted artists.

Established in 1984 and named after the radical painter JMW Turner, the prize is awarded annually to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or presentation of their work.

Photo credit: Roberts Institute of Arts presents Simeon Barclay, The Ruin, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, January 2025. Photo © Anne Tetzlaff. Courtesy of the Artist & Workplace.