Matić is second-youngest Turner Prize nominee ever

A city artist is the second-youngest nominee in the history of the Turner Prize.

Rene Matić, 28, from Peterborough, has been shortlisted for the 2025 award, given for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation. Previous winners include Damien Hirst and Grayson Perry.

Matić's work - sound, photography and fabric installations - has been on display at Cartwright Hall in Bradford, which is hosting this year's award.

They said it was "really and truly a dream come true", adding it was "something I wanted for as long as I can remember".

Speaking to the BBC, Matić said they had "so much encouragement" from people since being put forward.

"I think the main thing I am taking away from it is the pride from my family, it has been so beautiful," they said.

The mixed heritage, non-binary artist is the second-youngest nominee in the prize's history.

Damien Hirst was 27 when he was first nominated in 1992. He later won the prize in 1995 aged 30.

Matić's work explores themes of identity, relationships and political hypocrisy.

"I am in between so many things in life and I feel like I am in between so many different identity markers and places.

"Working from that place... that is the moment of interruption that I think is necessary," the artist said.

The creative grew up in Peterborough with their family and said they were now "realising the influence" it had on them.

"It is a place where over 100 languages are spoken and that is so beautiful to me to have grown up in that multicultural place," Matić said.

"There are definitely things about it that I would say are disappointing to me," they admitted. "But I think, again… it eggs me on."

The winner of the £25,000 prize is announced on 9 December.

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.