In a celebration of creativity, community, and culture, the Birmingham Open 2025 art call has crowned its winner – and it’s a name that is already lighting up the city’s artistic landscape.
Ispahani Mukah, a Birmingham-based artist with Cameroonian roots, has clinched the top prize with his mesmerising ballpoint pen piece titled ‘Light Keeper’. The announcement was made following a powerful outdoor showcase in Victoria Square and Snow Hill Square, where Mukah’s intricate and emotionally charged work stood out among dozens of entries.
As part of his win, the artist receives a £1,000 cash prize, a portfolio review, and a coveted slot in a joint exhibition at Birmingham City University’s School of Art in 2025. “This win means everything,” Mukah shared with Phoenix. “To have Light Keeper, a drawing created with something as simple as a biro pen, resonate so deeply with people in Birmingham—my home—is incredibly moving.
“I created it from a place of personal truth, cultural memory, and spiritual curiosity. I’m grateful to Central BID, Colmore BID, and everyone who believes in the power of art to bring communities together.”
Mukah’s work is part of a broader mission: using art to revive overlooked histories and engage in meaningful conversations around identity and the divine. His victory is a proud moment not only for the local art scene but for a growing, diverse creative community that’s finding its voice in the heart of the UK.
The Birmingham Open 2025, a collaborative initiative by Central BID and Colmore BID, was open to all printable forms of art, focusing this year on the theme ‘LIGHT’—an homage to the city’s first Birmingham Light Festival. Artists were invited to reflect on how light shapes their stories, surroundings, and sense of self.
Joining Mukah in the winner’s circle is Dinah Hobbs, aged 48, whose evocative watercolour ‘The Upside Down Bridge’ earned the Highly Commended prize. Dinah, who hails from the West Midlands, also receives £1,000, a portfolio review, and inclusion in the BCU exhibition.
The judges described her painting as both “bold in vision” and “deep in emotional resonance.” Ruth Millington, arts writer and curator for Birmingham Open 25, expressed admiration for this year’s entries: “The standard was exceptional.
“Ispahani’s work dazzled with its visual intensity and intricate technique, while Dinah’s use of light and shadow evoked a haunting sense of place. We were moved, challenged, and inspired.”
The judging panel featured a mix of experienced curators and artists, including last year’s winner Ava Khera, Gallery Director Tim Ison, Culture Forward’s Charlene Carter-James, and Dr. David Osbaldestin from Birmingham City University. After a full day of deliberation, the panel reached a unanimous decision on the two winners.
But the story isn’t over yet. ‘The People’s Choice Award’ remains open for voting until Friday, 27 June 2025, inviting the public to weigh in on their favourite piece.
Visitors to Snow Hill Square can scan a QR code at the exhibition site to vote. The winner will join Mukah and Hobbs at the BCU show and receive their own £1,000 prize and portfolio review. As the city pulses with creativity, the Birmingham Open 2025 serves as a glowing reminder of how art—rooted in identity, light, and lived experience—can bring people together.
The exhibition continues to attract visitors from across the region, proving once again that Birmingham’s cultural heart beats boldly, brightly, and inclusively.
