Calls for Glasgow artist who won Turner Prize to be honoured with mural

Glasgow City Council has congratulated Pollokshields artist Jasleen Kaur on her Turner Prize win — and a mural on the side of arts venue Tramway could celebrate her victory.

Kaur, 38, won the prestigious award at a ceremony at Tate Britain earlier this month for her exhibition ‘Alter Altar’, which was first shown at Tramway.

Her work celebrates the Scottish Sikh community — and, if taken forward, the proposed mural would face on to the Albert Drive gurdwara.

Councillors passed a motion with cross-party support on Thursday which praised the Glasgow School of Art graduate’s success.

The council is planning to host a civic reception for the artist and her family, but Cllr Jon Molyneux, Greens, said it should consider how else the artist can be recognised.

Cllr Molyneux, who represents Pollokshields, added: “A particular idea I’d had in mind is there is an aspiration to create an artwork on the gable wall of Tramway that overlooks the gurdwara.

“It has been whitewashed ready to be done at some point. It would be really good if we could talk about how that could be taken forward. That might be an appropriate way to mark it and create a lasting legacy.”

Cllr Molyneux, who presented the motion, said the exhibition was “a celebration of Jasleen Kaur’s Scottish-Sikh upbringing” and judges had “praised how it brought together the personal, the political and the spiritual”.

He added: “I think it’s important that the city celebrates this success and offers our warmest congratulations to Jasleen Kaur.

“It is also appropriate that the exhibition was first held at Tramway which is obviously just a short distance from where Jasleen grew up.”

The councillor also praised Tramway which he said puts on “an incredibly rich and high value programme” despite the financial challenges facing Glasgow Life.

Kaur’s exhibition featured items related to her upbringing, including a red Ford Escort, like her father’s first vehicle, covered in a huge doily.

Cllr Soryia Siddique, Labour, said the artist’s victory was a “triumph for representation and empowerment”.

“Her exhibition, featuring a vintage Ford Escort, worship bells and Irn-Bru, celebrates Scottish Sikh heritage with pride. Sikhs, like many minorities, face barriers to fair representation in the arts, but Kaur’s victory breaks these barriers, amplifying underrepresented voices and inspiring solidarity.”

Glasgow Life, the council’s arms-length organisation in charge of culture and leisure venues, said there are currently no confirmed plans for the suggested celebratory mural.