Grayson Perry

“Perry‘s embrace of decoration becomes a springboard into a dazzling range of forms and surfaces; his keen sense of adornment also helps to shape questions about human nature, politics, and aesthetic choices.” —Fiberarts Grayson Perry, renowned for his ceramic vases decorated with shocking, unconventional imagery, rose to fame in 2003 when he won the Turner Prize, collecting the award wearing a lilac babydoll dress and red pumps. Perry’s hard-hitting yet exquisite work, which also includes tapestry, prints, sculpture, and drawing, references his own upbringing and his life as a transvestite while engaging with broader issues, from war and religion to politics and sex. This monograph, now updated and expanded, explores Perry's work through a discussion of his major themes and subjects. Jacky Klein’s text is complemented by intimate and insightful commentaries on individual pieces by the artist, giving unique access to his imaginative world and creative processes. Over 175 of Perry’s works are illustrated, as well as a rich selection of the visual material that has inspired him, from Afghan war rugs, Sumatran batiks, and medieval altarpieces to the paintings of Pieter Bruegel and the American Outsider artist Henry Darger.