Grayson Perry - The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman


Grayson Perry, the controversial contemporary artist and RA Turner Prize winner has curated an installation of his new works alongside objects made by unknown men and women throughout history from the British Museum’s collection in London. He spent two years working on this collaboration with the BM.


The artwork explores a range of themes connected with notions of craftsmanship and sacred journeys – from shamanism, magic and holy relics to motorbikes, identity and contemporary culture. Vases covered in witty captions, elaborate tapestries and the centrepiece, a richly decorated cast iron coffin-ship, are on display alongside objects from the past two million years of culture and civilisation.


‘This is a memorial to all the anonymous craftsmen that over the centuries have fashioned the manmade wonders of the world… The craftsman’s anonymity I find especially resonant in an age of the celebrity artist.’ the artist said.

Until 19 February