Grayson Perry

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

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.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Grayson Perry (b. 1960) is a British contemporary artist known primarily for his ceramic vases decorated with shocking and unconventional imagery. Tapping into his life growing up and his experiences as a transvestite, his art explores topics from war and religion to politics and sex. He is noted for the classic form of his vases juxtaposed with his unorthodox decorations, which are at times explicit. British art historian, broadcaster, and author Klein has compiled a chronological journey through the artistic development of Perry and his work. Following an introduction to the world of Perry, Klein has the artist continue the narrative as he delves into the progression of his art, lending insight into his imagination and creative process. More than 255 images of work accompany descriptions as Perry maps out the creative journey of each piece. In all, there are over 400 color illustrations, which also include images that have influenced the artist's career. VERDICT Perry is a singular artist with an unusual perspective of the world around him. This updated edition of a 2009 volume is a very thorough study of one particular artist but it may have a limited audience.--Sandra Knowles, formerly South Carolina State Lib., Columbia

CHOICE Review

With an articulate, insightful text and large color photographs, Klein (an art historian with a contemporary focus) places this eccentric, controversial British artist and his art into cultural and historical perspective. Perry's work explores several themes, including the tension and conflict caused by class differences, war, erotic sexual fantasies, religion, folk art, the art world, and pilgrimage. Perry's own illuminating descriptions of the mostly autobiographical pieces of ceramics, metalwork, textiles, and prints in this second edition (1st ed., 2009) include the inspiration and motivation behind their forms and surfaces. His life and experimental collages, found object constructions, sketches, and performances done while still a student in the 1980s continue to inform his artwork today. Perry's primary medium is earthenware ceramics, which he molds and hand builds with coils, then decorates with stamps, incised imagery, and provocative narrative text. Many of his vessels and plates are further embellished with slips, glazes, and transfers. Hogarth's satirical prints and historical English and Asian pottery contextualize Perry's content and craftsmanship. Some readers may find the often irreverent, rebellious, and X-rated imagery offensive, but Perry's aesthetic evolved as authentic responses to his world and the artist's place in society. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general readers. C. A. Ventura Tennessee Technological University