Painter Abts wins $49,000 Turner Prize
From Paul Majendie

LONDON—German-born artist Tomma Abts on Monday became the first woman painter to land the Turner Prize in the 22-year history of one of the art world’s most controversial awards.
The abstract painter, who has lived in London for the past 12 years, received the 25,000 pound ($49,500) award from Yoko Ono and said afterwards in a subdued acceptance speech: “Thank you so much. It is a real honour to receive this prize.”
Critics lauded the Kiel-born artist with art writer Meredith Etherington-Smith telling Reuters: “They are very subtle — it is like looking at a drawing by an Old Master. They put me in mind of a 16th century miniaturist.”
Mark Rappolt, editor of ArtReview, agreed: “They are very small works with a lot going on in them. They are open to many different approaches.”
But there were dissenting voices too. Charles Thomson, who heads the Stuckist Movement that stages demonstrations every year against the Turner, said of Abts “Her work deserves a prize for vacuous drabness. It looks like doodles done by a lobotomized computer.”
Sculptor Rebecca Warren had been hot favourite to land the prize with her collection of neon-lit boxes full of fluff and twigs. The shortlist was made up by Mark Titchner who uses everything from t-shirts to light boxes, adorning them with song lyrics and advertising slogans.