Grayson Perry: (E)

A major new monograph on the work of celebrated and controversial British artist Grayson Perry.

Grayson Perry, famous for his ceramic vases decorated with shocking and unconventional imagery, is one of a generation of contemporary British artists to have emerged on the international stage in the last two decades. He rose to fame in 2003 when he won the prestigious Turner Prize and collected the award wearing a lilac babydoll dress and red pumps. His hard-hitting yet exquisite work, which includes prints, embroidery, sculpture, drawings, and ceramics, references his own upbringing and his life as a transvestite as well as engaging with broader issues such as war, religion, and sex.

This lavishly illustrated monograph explores Perry’s work through a discussion of his major themes and subjects, and the text is complemented by a series of intimate, insightful commentaries on individual pieces by the artist himself. The book features some 150 of Perry’s works as well as a rich selection of the visual material that has inspired him, from Afghan war rugs, medieval altarpieces, and satirical prints to the paintings of Pieter Brueghel, Anselm Kiefer, and the American Outsider artist Henry Darger. With an up-to-date biography, bibliography, and exhibition history, this definitive book is the first to explore fully the achievements of Perry’s twenty-five-year career. 300 color illustrations

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.