Winner Announced for Birmingham Open 25

• Ispahani Mukah has been named the winner of Birmingham Open 25.
• Thanks to Colmore and Central BID, emerging artists were given platform to shine.
• Public invite to vote for ‘People’s Choice’ prize at Birmingham Snow Hill Square
• Winners will receive £1,000 cash prizes, portfolio reviews and a joint exhibition at Birmingham City University’s School of Art – a special prize for 2025.

Ispahani Mukah, 28, has been crowned the winner of Birmingham Open 25.

The competition’s top honour goes to Ispahani Mukah, whose artwork ‘Light Keeper’ (pictured above) captivated the judging panel with its originality, creative flair and technical excellence – earning him a £1,000 cash prize, a portfolio review and special 2025 award: a joint exhibition at Birmingham City University’s (BCU) School of Art.

Mukah is a Birmingham-based emerging multidisciplinary artist whose intricate ballpoint pen artworks explore identity, cultural spontaneity and the divine. Drawing from his Cameroonian heritage and life in the UK, his work revives overlooked histories and sparks dialogue around identity.

His work has been exhibited at the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, London (2024), RBSA Gallery (2024), and Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry (2025). He has been highly commended at the RBSA Friends Exhibition and Coventry Open 25 Exhibition and won the 2020 United Nations Youth with Refugees Competition.

Mukah’s committed to community engagement, delivering free creative workshops for over 100 children in Cameroon. With emotionally resonant mark-marking and growing presence in contemporary figurative art, he continues to challenge narratives and celebrate identity’s evolving nature.

Speaking of his win, Ispahani Mukah said: “Winning the Birmingham Open 25 Competition is an incredible honour. I’m truly grateful that my biro drawing, “Light Keeper”, deeply resonated with Birmingham’s vibrant community. It’s been a privilege meeting some of the city’s most remarkable talents and I extend my heartfelt thanks to the organisers, judges, and Colmore Business District for championing artistic expression. This recognition not only validates my artistic voice but also serves as a springboard for what’s ahead.”

Ruth Millington and Ispahani Mukah at Birmingham Open 25 Exhibition, Birmingham Snow Hill

Birmingham Open 25 was an open call and competition for all printable forms of artwork, providing a platform to talented, emerging Birmingham artists who are producing exceptional work.

Thanks to Colmore and Central BID, emerging artists were given platform to shine, with over competition 150 entrants.

The theme of this year’s competition was LIGHT following the first Birmingham Light Festival. The exhibition works include a range of imaginative responses that capture and frame light in a myriad of ways.

The Highly Commended prize has been awarded to Dinah Hobbs, 48, whose watercolour artwork ‘The Upside Down Bridge’ stood out to the judges for its bold vision and compelling narrative. Dinah will also receive a portfolio review, a £1,000 cash prize and feature at the BCU exhibition.

The public is now invited to help decide the People’s Choice Award, the third and final prize of the competition. Voting is open until the exhibition ends [Friday 27 June 2025] and visitors simply visit the exhibition site at Snow Hill Square and scan a QR code to pick their favourite. The People’s Choice award winner will also receive a portfolio review, inclusion at the BCU exhibition and £1,000 cash prize.

Ruth Millington, arts writer and curator of Birmingham Open 25, said: “I’d like to thank the judging panel, which included last year’s winning artist Ava Khera, Gallery Director Tim Ison, Culture Forward’s Charlene Carter-James, and Dr David Osbaldestin, BCU for sharing their time and expertise.

Following a full day of discussions, we agreed on the two winners for their technical ability and original, captivating responses to the theme of light. We were most impressed by the visual intensity, created with a humble biro pen, by Ispahani Mukah, while the atmospheric quality of Dinah Hobbs’ painting also stood out.”

The Birmingham Open 25 exhibition is live at Snow Hill Square and Victoria Square until Friday 27 June 2025. The outdoor exhibitions are free to attend, and visitors are encouraged to crown their ‘People’s Choice’ winner at the Snow Hill Square site.

Birmingham Open 25 is delivered through Colmore BID’s Outstanding Places Working Group. Chair of the group, Melanie Williams said: “It’s fantastic to see Birmingham Open 25 return to the city. Each year it brings fresh creative minds and powerful voices together. The winning entries are testament to the talent that exists Birmingham’s upcoming creative community and it’s great to share this with the public. Please visit the exhibitions and see the talent for yourselves!”

For more information, visit https://colmorebusinessdistrict.com/events/birmingham-open-25-light-exhibition/.