© Victoria Miro
In what might be the shrewdest move since Damien Hirst auctioned his works direct to the public, Grayson Perry has just signed a two-year deal with Channel 4. That’s a lot of free advertising.
Not that producers won’t get their money’s worth. Perry’s recent series about taste was a riveting watch with plenty of real insights into life in Britain. With a refreshing line in social comment, the transvestite potter has been billed as a latter day Hogarth.
So popular has this proved that the current show is said to have become one of his gallery’s busiest ever exhibitions. In effect, the three-part programme has worked as a trailer for six epic tapestries which are now for sale in very limited editions.
As seen on TV, they now hang resplendent in a white cube space in Islington, along with a clutch of trademark Perry vases which, like the embroidery on the wall, are covered with his musings. And although his subjects are now familiar from television, the art historical references resonate more strongly in the gallery context.
Artist/TV presenters are a rare breed and Perry’s only real competition in this field is Rolf Harris. But then again Rolf never won the Turner Prize, so the transvestite potter comes out on top - thankfully.
- Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm. Admission free.
