BOOK:Grayson Perry, Thames & Hudson

In his work Grayson Perry tackles subjects that are universally human: identity, gender, social status, sexuality, religion. He tries to deal with them in a way that is accessible and yet not patronising. Perry is a great chronicler of contemporary life, drawing us in with wit, affecting sentiment and nostalgia as well as fear and anger. In this major monograph on Grayson Perry, now updated and expanded, writer and art historian Jacky Klein explores the artist’s work through a discussion of his major themes and subjects. Klein’s text is complemented by intimate and perceptive commentaries by Perry on individual pieces, giving unique access to his imaginative world and creative processes. This third edition not only has updates throughout, but also includes two new chapters, on the ‘House for Essex’, designed and built in 2015 with Living Architecture (a UK not-for-profit holiday rental company founded by Alain de Botton, which aims to promote, educate and enhance appreciation of modern architecture), and on ‘Identity Politics’, covering new work made since 2013. Dimitris Lempesis