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Grayson
Perry

Artist, ceramicist, curator, and all-around national treasure Grayson Perry is known for his original approach to politically engaged, (often wacky) artistic creations. If you’re looking for original Grayson Perry prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network’s most in-demand works.

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Biography

Turner prize winner, Royal Academician and CBE Grayson Perry (and his alter-ego Claire) is best known for his quirky, politically engaged pottery and prints.

Born in Essex in 1960 to a working class family, Perry soon began kindling a love for ceramics and discovered transvestism. However, his mother did not approve of his predilection for cross-dressing, and it was only after getting kicked out of his family home that Perry decided to pursue becoming an artist.

Perry studied at Braintree College of Further Education from 1978 and received a BA in Fine Art from Portsmouth Polytechnic (now the University of Portsmouth) in 1982. Though he took part in the 'New Contemporaries' show at London’s ICA in 1980, Perry had his first solo exhibition of pottery works in 1984. The commercial success of these works and the show led him to focus more on ceramic arts rather than the short films and performance pieces he had been engaging in at the time.

Today, Grayson Perry’s art is instantly associated to colourful and witty ceramic vases, intricate tapestries and sardonic prints. Winning the Turner Prize in 2003 ensured Perry’s celebrity status in both the art world and in the mainstream media. His win was controversial not only because this was the first time the award was given to a ceramic artist, but because of Perry’s public transvestism. The judge’s verdict took hours longer than usual, but they eventually cited his 'uncompromising engagement with personal and social concerns' as reason for his win. This victory really cemented Perry’s status as a disruptor of mainstream expression and as a key player in the contemporary arts scene.

One of Perry’s most famous artworks is his 2011 Rosetta Vase, currently held by the British Museum. Originally made as part of an exhibition that Perry himself helped to curate: 'Tomb Of The Unknown Craftsman', this vase is bright yellow, decorated with blue images and text with iconography inspired by objects in the surrounding museum.

No stranger to experimenting with different media, the monumental Walthamstow Tapestry is a majestic testament to Perry’s versatility. Made in 2009, the work explores the emotional resonance of brand names in our lives and our relationship to consumerism. 15 by 3 metres, the tapestry can be read left to right and loosely outlines the seven stages of man while hundreds of brand names and buzz words surround these central figures. Currently held in the Netherlands, this work bears particular resonance with British viewers who recognise its references, notably to the suburb of Walthamstow itself, where Perry held a studio for many years.

Yellow vase by Grayson Perry, depicting Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat and portrait photo transfers.

Image © Christie's / I Want To Be An Artist © Grayson Perry 1996

1. £632,750 for Grayson Perry's I Want To Be An Artist (1996)

Establishing his significance in the contemporary art world, Perry’s ceramic vase I Want Be An Artist, sold for £632,750 at Christie's London in October 2017, securing its position as his most expensive artwork.

I Want To Be An Artist, made in 1996, stands as a vibrant and deeply personal piece within Grayson Perry's collection of ceramic vases, paying tribute to Perry's revered American artists, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, who are depicted on the vase's opposing sides. Through a visual homage, Perry skilfully weaves in miniature symbols reflective of each artist's work. Warhol's screenprinting legacy is referenced through embedded photographic portraits in his depicted chest. By contrast, a gilded skeleton beside Basquiat hints at his early demise at 27, enriching the vase's poignant narrative. By aligning this contemporary piece with the tradition of ancient vases, which often bore images of deities, Perry elevates I Want To Be An Artist to a modern-day relic, a tribute to two iconic figures of the twentieth century's art scene.

Pair of gold vases by Grayson Perry, with one depicting his mother and the other depicting his step-father.

Image © Christie's / The Guardians © Grayson Perry 1998

2. £443,250 for Grayson Perry's The Guardians (1998)

​​Perry's The Guardians (1998) stands as one of his most intimate and autobiographical works, comprising a pair of ornate vases that hold great personal significance. The pair of vases sold for £443,250 at Christie's London in October 2019.

These vases feature representations of Perry's mother and step-father, individuals with whom he had complex relationships. Despite their references to classical chinoiserie and Christian iconography, particularly through the use of gold, these vases essentially serve as self-portraits, offering glimpses into the artist's life.

Tapestry by Grayson Perry, depicting a couple departing from an outdoor driveway into a dinner party.

Image © Christie's / Expulsion from Number 8 Eden Close (from The Vanity of Small Differences) © Grayson Perry 2012

3. £226,800 for Grayson Perry's Expulsion from Number 8 Eden Close (from The Vanity of Small Differences) (2012)

Perry's artwork Expulsion from Number 8 Eden Close (from The Vanity of Small Differences) (2012) made its auction debut at Christie's in June 2023. This vibrant tapestry portrays two central figures, reminiscent of Adam and Eve departing from Eden, transitioning from an outdoor nighttime scene into an interior space resembling a dinner party. Figures with sinister facial expressions feature in both settings, leaving it ambiguous which scene represents the divine realm.

The piece garnered significant popularity, selling for £226,800, surpassing its modest £120,000 high estimate and securing its position among Perry's top-selling works.

Ceramic vase made by Grayson Perry, depicting a young rendering of himself standing in a working class town.

Image © Christie's / Barbaric Splendour © Grayson Perry 2003