Jesse Darling Awarded 2023 Turner Prize at Eastbourne Ceremony

Jesse Darling received the 2023 Turner Prize, a £25,000 award, during a ceremony at Eastbourne’s Winter Garden hosted by Towner Eastbourne. The event was presented by musician Tinie Tempah. Darling’s installation, which includes sculptures like Come On England (2023) made from pedestrian barriers and welded steel, addresses themes of Brexit’s aftermath and national policies’ impacts on communities, as noted in Salena Barry’s review. The jury, chaired by Tate Britain director Alex Farquharson, included Martin Clark of Camden Art Centre, Cédric Fauq from Capc musée d’art contemporain de Bordeaux, Melanie Keen of the Wellcome Collection, and Helen Nisbet of Cromwell Place. They praised all nominees—Darling, Ghislaine Leung, Rory Pilgrim, and Barbara Walker—for their works reflecting contemporary realities and themes of uncertainty. The Turner Prize exhibition at Towner Eastbourne runs until 14 April 2024.