Grayson Perry

Grayson Perry is a British contemporary artist known for his ceramics, tapestries, sculptures and his feminine alter ego, Claire, who appears throughout Perry’s extensive oeuvre. Born in 1960 in Chelmsford, Essex, Perry’s work often explores themes of identity, gender and social class, blending traditional craft with provocative commentary on contemporary culture.

Perry first gained recognition in the 1980s for his ceramics, which subverted the conventional boundaries of pottery by combining classical forms with bold, often controversial, imagery. His pots, vases, and other ceramic works feature intricate, decorative surfaces adorned with scenes that critique societal norms and personal struggles. These pieces are central to his body of work, merging craft with fine art in ways that challenge traditional hierarchies within the art world.

I Want To Be An Artist (1996) is an outstanding example of Grayson Perry’s colourful and personal ceramic vases. This work is dedicated to two of Perry’s favourite American artists — Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat — who are illustrated on either side of the vase. In 2017 Christie’s London sold this piece for £632,750, setting a world auction record for the artist.

Perry’s exploration of identity extends to his personal life, where he is known for his alter ego, Claire, through which he expresses his experiences and ideas about gender. Claire has become a recurring persona in Perry’s work, where he challenges and deconstructs stereotypes of masculinity and femininity.

Grayson Perry’s landmark series The Vanity of Small Differences, a group of six monumental tapestries, presents a story of class mobility in Britain. Executed in 2012, the series offers a contemporary reimagination of William Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress (1732–34). Hogarth’s eight paintings chart the downfall of Tom Rakewell, a young heir who drains his inheritance on luxurious living, is sent to debtors’ prison, and ultimately dies in a psychiatric hospital. A contrary rags-to-riches tale, Perry’s version follows Tim Rakewell, a working-class boy who swaps his humble beginnings for a life of fame and fortune.

Perry’s eclectic and deeply personal work has earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Turner Prize in 2003. As a commentator on contemporary culture and society, British artist Grayson Perry continues to challenge and inspire, using his art to explore the complexities of human experience.