Mythical shapes and the impact of oil: Meet the nominees for the art world's prestigious prize

A spoken-word performance about life in the industrial north and sculptures which examine the political history of oil are among the shortlisted artworks for this year's Turner Prize.

The works by artists Simeon Barclay, Kira Freije, Marguerite Humeau, and Tanoa Sasraku will go on display in Middlesborough later this year before a winner is announced in December.

Jury chair Alex Farquharson said the shortlisted works offered "a compelling reflection of the breadth and vitality of contemporary British art".

The four shortlisted artists are awarded £10,000 each, while the eventual winner will receive £25,000.

One of the most prestigious awards for visual arts, the Turner Prize was established in 1984 to promote public debate around new developments in contemporary British art.

The prize is named after painter JMW Turner and awarded annually to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work.

This year's four shortlisted works will go on display at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Teeside University, with the winner announced there on 10 December.

Farquharson said this year's selection presents a "rich and diverse range of work" that "offer distinct perspectives through which to explore the world around us".

What is the work? Barclay's hour-long spoken word performance draws on his upbringing in Huddersfield and his experience of the industrial landscape of northern England, against a soundtrack of live percussion and horn.

What did the jury say? The jury praised Barclay's debut performance for its "exploration of Britishness, class, race and masculine identity, through an evocative, experimental use of language and a psychologically immersive soundscape"

Chance of winning? Barclay stands out among this year's four artists as the only one whose work is based on live performance rather than sculpture. His topical content could help him secure the first win for a spoken-word work since 2019.

What is the work? Freije uses metal, fabric and found materials to create sculptures that explore universal human emotions, such as stonecast faces and life-size figures constructed from bare metal armatures.

What did the jury say? They praised the "emotional depth" of Freije's work, highlighting its "unique sculptural vocabulary of materials and forms, as well as the haunting and expressive way she transformed the space through her arrangement of figures".

Chances of winning? Freije's anonymous and androgynous figures are open to viewers' interpretation, but most would consider them striking and memorable regardless of their meaning - judges are likely to be impressed by the artist's distinctive style.