Synopses & Reviews
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.
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." Choice
Synopsis
"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." --
About the Author
Jacky Klein is an art historian and writer specializing in twentieth-century contemporary art. Formerly a curator at London's Hayward Gallery, she is the co-author with Suzy Klein of What Is Contemporary Art? A Children's Guide.