Turner Shortlist Announced

LONDON—The shortlist for the 2008 Turner Prize, Britain’s most prestigious contemporary art prize, has been announced. The nominees are Runa Islam, Mark Leckey, Goshka Macuga, and Cathy Wilkes.

The shortlisted artists will be featured in an exhibition at Tate Britain, which opens on October 7, and the winner of the £25,000 ($48,600) award will be announced on December 1.

Though only three women have won the prize since its inception in 1984, three of this year’s four nominees are female. However, the lone male, Leckey, a self-described "modern-day dandy" who has "a slight obsession" with Felix the Cat, has emerged as the heavy favorite to win. Bookmaker Ladbrokes had him at 5/6 odds following a string of early bets.