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Grayson Perry's 10 Most Famous Artworks

Rebecca Barry
written by Rebecca Barry,
Last updated25 Mar 2024
Large-scale monochrome etching by Grayson Perry, depicting a self portrait in the form of a map. Areas on the map represent Perry's emotions and experiences.A Map Of Days © Grayson Perry 2013
Jasper Tordoff

Jasper Tordoff, Specialist[email protected]

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Grayson Perry

Grayson Perry

33 works

Grayson Perry, celebrated as a Turner Prize recipient and Commander of the Order of the British Empire, along with his alter-ego Claire, is renowned for his eccentric and politically charged artworks. Perry’s dynamic artistry, across a variety of mediums, including ceramics, embroidery, and performance, has received vast critical acclaim yet is radically accessible. By examining the stories behind his top 10 artworks, we gain insight into his career and influence on Contemporary Art.

Glazed earthenware vase by Grayson Perry in gold, silver, black and cream, depicting a sorrowful couple, following the loss of their child. The urn is peppered with phrases which dismiss the welfare of children, such as 'never have kids'.Image © Christie's / We've Found The Body Of Your Child © Grayson Perry 2000
1.

We’ve Found The Body Of Your Child (2000)

Famed for his distinctive pottery, Perry produced the ceramic vase, We’ve Found The Body Of Your Child, in 2000. Drawing inspiration from Brueghel's paintings and the haunting narrative of Tom Waits' song Georgia Lee, this work encapsulates a complex story of sorrow and ambiguity. The vase is inscribed with phrases such as ‘Never have kids’, hinting at neglectful attitudes toward children and reflecting a critical commentary on how society often dismisses the seriousness of child welfare.

Glazed earthenware by Grayson Perry, depicting Claire and ethereal child figures, drawing on Greek and folk art traditions.Image © Christie's / Golden Globes © Grayson Perry 2000
2.

Golden Ghosts (2000)

Presented in Perry's 2003 Turner Prize Exhibition, Golden Ghosts is a poignant work blending autobiographical elements with historical imagery. The vase, featuring Claire and ethereal child figures, draws on Greek and folk art traditions, embodying Perry's use of pottery's understated communicative power. The refined line work exemplifies his intent to convey messages with subtlety rather than overt statements. This piece, highlighting Perry's nuanced exploration of identity and memory, was auctioned at Christie's London in October 2018, fetching £175,000.

Ceramic vase by Grayson Perry, featuring a vivid portrayal of class and consumerism through a northern working-class town setting. Perry's work intricately incorporates personal elements, such as a memorial to his alter-ego Alan MeaslesImage © Christie's / Golden Globes © Grayson Perry 2003
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3.

Barbaric Splendour (2003)

Barbaric Splendour exemplifies Grayson Perry's signature combination of classical ceramic forms with incisive social commentary, featuring a vivid portrayal of class and consumerism through a northern working-class town setting. Perry's work intricately incorporates personal elements, such as a memorial to his alter-ego Alan Measles, challenging traditional perceptions of ceramics. Highlighting the artwork's significance in the contemporary art scene and its contribution to discussions of class and aesthetics, Barbaric Splendour was auctioned for £224,750 at Christie's London in March 2018.

Glazed earthenware by Grayson Perry featuring a depiction of Claire against a backdrop of Northern Spain.Image © Christie's / Saint Claire 37 Wanks Across Northern Spain © Grayson Perry 2003
4.

Saint Claire 37 Wanks Across Northern Spain (2003)

Crafted the same year Perry was honoured with the Turner Prize, this provocatively titled ceramic vase showcases his feminine alter-ego, Claire. This glazed urn sold for a remarkable £200,000 at Christie's London in October 2017. Inspired by Perry's cycling pilgrimage in Northern Spain, it blends religious art influences with Perry’s sexual fantasies, featuring worn paintwork effects, low relief figures, and a mix of landscape drawings including the Santiago cathedral. Perry's work subversively intertwines sexuality, religious artistry, and personal experiences, challenging pottery's decorative and utilitarian confines.

Wool needlepoint tapestry by Grayson Perry, featuring his teddy bear, Alan Measles, in red at the centre of the piece. He is surrounded by religious and politically-related imagery, such as crosses and the Twin Towers. The brown perimeter of the tapestry is adorned with text, including the slogan 'VOTE ALAN MEASLES FOR GOD'.Image © Artificial Gallery / Vote Alan Measles For God © Grayson Perry 2008
5.

Vote Alan Measles For God (2008)

This 2008 wool needlepoint tapestry by Perry elevates his childhood teddy bear, Alan Measles, as a symbol of divinity amidst a tapestry crowded with symbols of war, terrorism, and global unrest. Alan Measles, wearing a suicide bomber's vest and wielding a weapon, is pointedly depicted on the Twin Towers, surrounded by a chaotic amalgam of political and cultural icons. Blending personal narrative with poignant moments of global unrest, this complex artwork showcases Perry's mode of commentary on masculinity and authority.

Yellow ceramic vase by Grayson Perry, covered with blue and white depictions of the artworks from the British Museum.Image © The Nosy Crow Ltd / The Rosetta Vase © Grayson Perry 2011
6.

The Rosetta Vase (2011)

The Rosetta Vase (2011), is a ceramic masterpiece reflecting the artist's contemplation on culture and history, inspired by the British Museum's collections. Its ovoid form and bright yellow ground serve as a canvas for blue painted designs and incised decorations, featuring motifs like the Museum as a Tree of Life. Echoing the intricacies of ancient artefacts, the vase is adorned with slip-trailed linear motifs and Perry's signature potter's mark, crafting a dialogue between past and present cultural narratives.

7.

A Vanity Of Small Differences (Complete Set) (2012)

Perry's The Vanity of Small Differences (2012), a series of six tapestries, delves into British social classes and aesthetic tastes, drawing inspiration from his nationwide explorations for documentary series. Inspired by Hogarth's A Rake's Progress, Perry weaves a narrative through the class journey of Tim Rakewell, incorporating real-life encounters from Sunderland to The Cotswolds. This tapestry collection, renowned for its detailed depiction of contemporary life, tackles themes of identity, British class system, and status symbols, blending autobiographical elements with broader societal observations.

8.

A Map Of Days (2013)

In A Map of Days, Perry transforms a self-portrait into a detailed map of a fortified town, charting his personality, life events, and the relationship between the human experience and the construct of time. This large-scale etching, encased in a carefully chosen silver frame, invites viewers to explore Perry's identity through intricate details and autobiographical content. Perry incorporates both personal and universal themes, blending humour with a keen observation of the human desire to organise the chaotic aspects of life. His fascination with maps and cartography is evident, as he humorously assigns names to emotional states and life challenges, drawing inspiration from historical city plans to create a layered narrative of his inner and outer worlds.

Colourful tapestry by Grayson Perry extending to 8 metres and modelled on a British ten-pound note, incorporating quintessentially British symbols like the Queen and a cup of tea, juxtaposed with nostalgic elements such as The Archers radio drama and the characteristic British rain.Image © Paragon Press / Comfort Blanket © Grayson Perry 2014
9.

Comfort Blanket (2014)

Perry's tapestry titled Comfort Blanket from 2014 offers a vibrant, metaphorical portrait of Britain, envisioned as a security blanket that provides stability. The work, extending to 8 metres and modelled after a British ten-pound note, incorporates quintessentially British symbols like the Queen and a cup of tea, juxtaposed with nostalgic elements such as The Archers radio drama and the characteristic British rain. Inspired by a personal narrative of refuge, Perry's tapestry delves into the nation's cultural identity, blending everyday and iconic images to explore the nuances of what it means to be British today, thus inviting reflection on national pride and its contradictions.

Tapestry by Grayson Perry depicting a scene of communal mourning, symbolising the passing of traditional male roles.Image © Artsy / The Death Of A Working Hero © Grayson Perry 2016
10.

Death Of A Working Hero (2016)

Death Of A Working Hero, a tapestry made in 2016, is a poignant component of the Grayson Perry: All Man series, which delves into modern masculinity. Inspired by the Durham Miners' Gala and the ceremonial blessing of trade union banners, Perry crafts an image blending a miner and a boxer with a scene of communal mourning, symbolising the passing of traditional male roles. This tapestry, alongside Perry's reflections in his book The Descent Of Man, invites contemplation on the evolving landscape of male identity in contemporary society, highlighting the transition from binaried gender roles to more sensitive understandings of modern masculinity.

Jasper Tordoff

Jasper Tordoff, Specialist[email protected]

Interested in buying or selling
Grayson Perry?

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Grayson Perry

Grayson Perry

33 works

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