Grayson Perry is the 2003 Turner Prize winning British artist known for his textile works and ceramic vases. There is a strong autobiographical element in his work, in which images of Perry as 'Claire,' his femaile alter-ego, often appear. Perry is a great chronicler of contemporary life, drawing the viewer in with wit, affecting sentiment and nostalgia as well as fear and anger.
Grayson Perry has held a number of major exhibitions such as the acclaimed 'Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman' at the British Museum, 'Provincial Punk' at Turner Contemporary and The Arts Council Collection and British Council-led UK and international tour of The Vanity of Small Differences, Perry's monumental suite of tapestries, one of which is displayed in Currell Collection.
On being asked why Perry uses tapestries as a medium: "I always work with traditional media. Each historic category of object has accrued over time intellectual and emotional baggage. I depend on this to add inflection to the content of the works. Tapestry is the art form of grand houses. On my television taste safari I only saw tapestries hanging in stately homes. They depicted classical myths, historical and religious scenes or epic battles like Hannibal crossing the Alps. I enjoy the idea of using this costly and ancient medium to show the commonplace dramas of modern British life."
'The Vanity of Small Differences' exhibition is currently still on a world tour, next exhibiting at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, UK, in 2016.
Lit: Victoria Miro Gallery; Arts Council Collection; Channel 4; Turner Contemporary.
Grayson Perry is represented by Victoria Miro Gallery, UK, www.victoria-miro.com