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Grayson and Philippa Perry

After two successful series of Grayson’s Art Club, which saw Grayson and Philippa Perry virtually invite artists and celebrities to their studio during the months of lockdown, the new pieces of work have arrived at the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. Here, we take a closer look at the poignant exhibition...

During lockdown, Grayson Perry – one of Britain’s leading artists – helped the nation find comfort and company through art in his critically acclaimed Channel 4 series, Grayson’s Art Club. Each week on Zoom, Grayson and his wife, Philippa, invited the great British public to their studio where they spoke to famous artists and creatives about how they were spending their time, inviting them to respond creatively to lockdown. Alongside artists, the couple asked celebrity guests including Boy George, Derren Brown and Alex Horne to create brand new works of art in response to Grayson’s weekly themes –family, nature, food, dreams, work, and travel. The public were also invited to share their works and over 17,000 entries were submitted throughout the series in a vast range of mediums – from paintings and photography, to ceramics and textiles.

Now, after a successful two series of the programme, an exhibition of the masterpieces has gone on display at the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, where they will stay until 4 September. Grayson and his celebrity guests chose the pieces that now adorn the gallery’s walls.

Spread across three floors, the exhibition is a vibrant and poignant chronicle of lockdown and forms a lasting artistic record of the unique time the nation has lived through. As well as three galleries to explore, works are interspersed within the permanent collection to create a trail throughout the museum.

Alongside Grayson and Philippa’s brilliant pieces, visitors can enjoy works from Anneka Rice, Chila Kumari Burman-Singh, David Bailey, Banksy, Sir Frank Bowling, Holly Walsh, Jane Seymour, Johnny Vegas, Lianne La Havas, Lucy Sparrow, Mawaan Rizwan, Polly Morgan, Russell Tovey, Sue Perkins, Tom Allen, Yinka Ilori, Boy George, Alex Horne and Derren Brown.

Speaking about the exhibition, Grayson Perry said: “The team at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery have created a fitting tribute to the many touching and memorable works of art that were created by people all over the country. I particularly enjoyed flyposting the fanzine I created in episode four onto the gallery walls!”

Jon Finch, Head of Culture and Creative Industries at Bristol City Council, said: “Grayson’s Art Club is a real dose of comfort after the last couple of years. A particular highlight for me is the portrait of Grayson by Becky Tyler who creates incredible artworks using eyetracking software. I think visitors will enjoy hunting down the works throughout our permanent galleries. These inventions are sometimes amusing, often thought-provoking and encourage visitors to see the museum in a new light. Banksy was invited to contribute to the exhibition as an artist featured in the TV programme. We’re delighted that his Create Escape stencil will be on show to visitors to the museum.”

To accompany the exhibition, a special episode of Grayson’s Art Club aired on Channel 4 on 10 December – it can now be enjoyed on Channel 4’s catch-up service, 4oD. In the programme, Grayson goes behind the scenes at the museum as he oversees the creation of the exhibition, and visits some of his best-loved contributors at home. n • Grayson’s Art Club will be on display at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery until 4 September 2022. Entry is ‘pay what you can’. The exhibition is sponsored by UWE Bristol; bristolmuseums.org.uk

Expert opinion

Our regular columnist Chris Yeo, is away - but Clevedon Salerooms report an another hugely successful specialist sale

Under the hammer

Clevedon Salerooms held their Winter Specialist Fine Art Sale on Thursday 25th November. Lively bidding was in evidence throughout the day with consistently strong prices, a sale total well over expectations, and an 89 per cent selling rate from 600 lots on offer, bolstered by significant consignments from properties in Bristol, North Somerset and the Mendips.

With Christmas just around the corner, seasonal sparkle was much in evidence in the jewellery section which opened proceedings. Leading the pack was a stunning Edwardian sapphire and diamond necklace. Consigned by a Bristol vendor, it came with an equally sparkling provenance, having remained in the family for whom it was originally made. Clevedon Salerooms valuer Chris Yeo made the trip to London to have the piece analysed by a gemmologist, so that bidders had the added assurance of a recent laboratory test certificate which confirmed that the outstanding clarity of its sapphires was wholly natural. Such assurances served it well on the day, and after some spirited bidding the hammer finally dropped at an impressive £14,000.

The same price was also the double estimate result for a superb oil of sunflowers by Bristol favourite Mary Fedden, purchased directly from the artist herself, and consigned from a Clifton townhouse, along with the highest-selling lot of the day. Deux roses, a small oil on canvas renowned French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), was last sold over twenty years ago in London, and had the accompanying confirmation from the Wildenstein Institute verifying it as a genuine Renoir. The source of much pre-sale excitement, it sold to a collector in the room for £38,000.

With 2022 on the horizon, Clevedon Salerooms are gearing up for an exciting year of Fine Art and Interiors auctions, as well as increasing their regular free valuation days at the Saleroom, which will run every Monday (except Bank Holidays), together with specialist jewellery days remaining every third Tuesday, and also an expanded number of outside valuation events in Bristol and in Wells, where the auctioneers will have an increased presence. Please visit their website for more details. ■ • clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram)