Meet Rene Matić: Turner Prize's Young Trailblazer Shaking Up Art World

Rene Matić, a 28-year-old artist from Peterborough, has made history by becoming the second-youngest nominee for the Turner Prize, one of the most important awards in the art world. The Turner Prize is given every year to an artist who has created an outstanding exhibition or presentation. Previous winners include well-known artists like Damien Hirst and Grayson Perry. Rene is one of four artists shortlisted for the 2025 award, and their work includes sound pieces, photography, and fabric installations. This year, the Turner Prize exhibition is being held at a major gallery, and Rene’s art is on display for everyone to see. Rene said being nominated is 'really and truly a dream come true' and something they have wanted for as long as they can remember.

Rene’s photographs capture moments from their own life, such as a young woman, a floral tribute with a Jamaican flag, graffiti that reads 'unite or perish', and a book of condolence. Speaking to the BBC, Rene shared that they have received a lot of encouragement from people since being nominated. The most meaningful part for Rene has been seeing the pride and happiness from their family. Rene is a mixed heritage, non-binary artist, which means they do not identify strictly as male or female. Their art explores themes like identity, relationships, and political hypocrisy. Rene explained that they often feel like they are in between different parts of life and identity, and that working from this place of 'interruption' is important for their creative process.

The Turner Prize exhibition opened on Saturday, with all four nominees presenting their work. One of Rene’s installations features a sheet hanging from the ceiling with the words 'NO PLACE' written in black. The gallery room is painted white and has wooden floors, with artwork displayed all around. Rene grew up in Peterborough and now realizes how much the city has influenced them. They said Peterborough is a multicultural place where over 100 languages are spoken, which they find beautiful. However, Rene also admitted there are things about the city that disappoint them, but these challenges motivate them to keep going. The winner of the £25,000 Turner Prize will be announced on December 9.