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Grayson Perry
Shortlisted: 2003

Perry creates seductively beautiful pots to convey challenging themes: at the heart of his practice is a passionate desire to comment on deep flaws within society. His work has confused the art and craft worlds alike, accepted neither as traditional ceramics nor as contemporary art. Perry see this as strengthening his role as observer and commentator: 'A lot of my work has always had a guerrilla tactic, a stealth tactic. I want to make something that lives with the eye as a beautiful piece of art, but on closer inspection, a polemic or an ideology will come out of it.'

Golden Ghosts 2001 Earthenware, 63.2 x 26.8 x 26.8 cm © Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro Gallery, London Photo: Tate Photography

Grayson Perry was born in Essex in 1960 and studied at Portsmouth Polytechnic. He is shortlisted this year for his unique work exhibited at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, and the Barbican Art Gallery. This shows revealed his ability to combine the traditions of decorative arts, including drawing, embroidery and ceramics, to explore compelling personal and social themes.

This information has been taken from The Turner Prize: Twenty Years, by Virginia Button, Tate Publishing, 2003.

View Grayson Perry in the Tate Collection