London-based satirical artist WOTW (W**kers of the World) pulled off a shock win at the Cass Art Prize 2025 winning the £10,000 main prize.
The provocative artist beat traditional fine art names with his winning piece Who Do You Support? The piece reimagines our never-ending culture war and increasingly divisive politics as football culture, pitting sides against each other in 27 ‘half-and-half’ football scarves. The artist, who works anonymously, attended the prizegiving in a mask, showing a pixelated version of his own face, to preserve his identity.
The scarves read “Corbyn v Starmer”, “Transgender v TERF”, “Palestine v Israel”, “The Guardian v The Daily Mail”, and “Harry & Meghan v William & Kate.” Some debates seen on the scarves are decades or even centuries old – “evolution v creationism”reads one football scarf.
WOTW first came to prominence in 2017 with a series of fake sex worker advertisement cards featuring right-wing figures such as Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Theresa May, and Rupert Murdoch.
Stalls outside British football grounds have always sold matchday souvenirs to fans – hats, posters, pin badges, and of course, the ubiquitous team scarf. In recent years, a new genre of merchandise has emerged – the notorious half-and-half scarf.
Hated by “proper fans”, these controversial souvenirs – sold predominantly to tourists, show opposing teams on the same scarf and have become a symbol of the commercialisation of sanitised modern football and the erosion of authentic fan tribalism. While hatred between football fans has been diluted, wider society has become more divided and tribal than ever, with the so-called ‘culture war’ fuelling animosity between opposing political views. We are now more likely to change football teams than acknowledge any weakness in our political ideology. The way people defend their entrenched beliefs is very reminiscent of a hardcore fan supporting their team through thick and thin.
In the modern world, complex divisive issues are live streamed into our homes much like a never-ending World Cup tournament, with millions of wannabe online pundits poring over the action 24 hours a day. The artwork is a reimagining of a matchday market stall with 27 half-and-half scarves, each depicting opposing sides of the culture war.
WOTW
The Cass Art Prize was founded in 2024 by beloved art supply retailer Cass Art. The Cass Art Prize continues the Cass family’s monumental legacy of supporting artists for more than 125 years. From championing the works of Monet and Van Gogh in 1890s Europe to facilitating the first three commissions on the Fourth Plinth at Trafalgar Square, The Cass Art Prize keeps this pioneering spirit alive for 2025.
A cash prize of £10,000 and a free stand at The Other Art Fair was awarded to this year’s main prize winner WOTW.
Other categories for 2025 included The Over 65 Award supported by Founder Mark Cass won by Katharina Rieppel for The Swimming Pool, The Judge’s New Talent Award awarded to Qian Zhong for Ecstacy & Beth McAlester for Themunns who both get a solo show at Soho Revue selected by guest judge and Soho Revue Founder India Rose James; and The Emerging Artist Award awarded to Josh C Wright for Everything I Know supported by Arches, which celebrates artists aged 35 or under.
Cass Art Founder and CEO Mark Cass comments,
“My family has a long, proud history of supporting artists. The Cass Art Prize for 2025 is the continuation of this legacy, furthering our mission to fill every town with artists, from professionals to beginners, no matter what age.
Thanks go to our judges who had the toughest task of choosing our winner from an incredible array of talent across an extensive range of art mediums. Whilst it can feel like the world has never felt more divided – and our winner’s work is a fitting symbol of this – I truly believe in the importance & unifying nature of art. Aside from creativity being a source of joy and inspiration, more importantly Art helps us understand our history & our culture, and enables us to see the perspectives of others.
I think this year’s show is testament to the incredible creative talent that exists within communities across the UK & Ireland, and I hope everyone who gets the chance to attend enjoys this year’s unique exhibition.”
The Cass Art Prize 2025 exhibition is on display at Peckham’s Copeland Gallery until 1st November 2025.
This year’s winner was chosen by a judging panel consisting of revered painter and former National Portrait Gallery Portrait Award winner Ishbel Myerscough, Turner Prize-nominated Scottish sculptor and “icon of public art” David Mach RA, Times Radio Arts & Culture producer Tim Allen, Soho Revue Founding Director India Rose James, Artist and Director of The Bomb Factory Pallas Citroen, Curator, Cultural Producer, TV Personality and Attitude Magazine Pride Award-winner Ryan Lanji and internationally exhibited London artist Michaela Yearwood-Dan.
