Lubaina Himid, a visual artist whose drawings, paintings and installations reflect the African Diaspora, has won the 2017 Turner prize.
Himid is the first woman of color to win the prestigious award, a British contemporary-art award, and is also the oldest winner at age 63 in the prize’s 33-year history. Her theatrical, witty and challenging works address colonial history, racism and institutional invisibility.
“I won it for all the times where we put our heads above the parapet, we tried to do things, we failed, people died in the meantime … for all the black women who never did win it even though they had been shortlisted … it feels good for that reason,” Himid told The Guardian
Established in 1984, the Turner Prize is a visual-arts award given to an artist born, living or working in Britain. Each year, four artists are shortlisted, and the prize goes to an outstanding exhibition or other presentation in the preceding year.
