Grayson Perry

Grayson Perry was born in Chelmsford in 1960 and currently lives and works in London. In the early 1980s, he was part of a group of experimental performers and directors known as the “Neo-Naturists.” However, it was not until 2003 that he gained widespread recognition by winning the Turner Prize, where he stood out for his ironic approach that combines provocation with tradition.

Perry is renowned for his intricately crafted ceramic vases, which feature classic forms adorned with texts, images, and drawings that often depict dark and unsettling subjects. These vases appear as friendly and familiar objects, utilizing a rich iconographic repertoire and the domestic context to narrate stories of ordinary madness. The incongruity of these masterpieces leaves viewers astonished, as they deftly navigate between elegance, the decorative qualities of the material, and the grotesque, sometimes aggressive nature of the depicted subjects.

This complexity is complemented by Perry's own personality, as he frequently appears in the guise of his alter ego, Claire, donning a whimsical Alice in Wonderland-style dress. This persona, intended to be reassuring, paradoxically heightens the viewer's sense of unease. This irresistible ambiguity captures the contradictions and confusion of contemporary life with remarkable clarity. As Damien Hirst noted, “I like the way Grayson Perry lures the audience in and then tramples all over their good manners. He puts people in a difficult position. Discomfort is a fantastic reaction.”