Grayson's Art Club

Format

During the coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdown measures, Grayson Perry asked viewers to submit artworks on a given theme each week. Perry selected several pieces each week to be part of an exhibition to be held after the lockdown ended, and spoke via video link to the creators. Both Perry and his wife were also filmed using mainly static cameras placed around the studio making artworks for the exhibition. In addition, Perry conducted remote interviews with artists including Maggi Hambling, Antony Gormley, and The Singh Twins, and with celebrities with artistic hobbies, including Noel Fielding, Jessica Hynes, and Jim Moir.

Pieces from the celebrities and professional artists were also to be included in the exhibition, which was to be held at Manchester Art Gallery from 25 November 2020 – 18 April 2021. A further exhibition was held at Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham in 2023. The music for the series was by Alexander Parsons and is available to buy in digital formats only. Writing about the first series in The Guardian, Claire Armitstead noted 'Grayson's Art Club was conceived as a quickfire reaction to the pandemic, with Grayson repeatedly emphasising the creative potential of boredom and confinement.'

Perry said of the art 'We're saying the finished thing doesn't have to be good, but the process has to be genuine. And it has to be heartfelt and enjoyable.'

Series and episodes

Series 1 comprised six one-hour weekly episodes. The first episode, Portraits, first broadcast Monday 27 April 2020, featured artist Chantal Joffe painting a self portrait; comedian and guest judge Joe Lycett painting a portrait of England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty; and presenter Keith Lemon making an iPad portrait of Pharrell Williams. Perry worked on a portrait of his wife Philippa which he then painted onto a large ceramic plate, and started work on a large ceramic 'protective figure' of his totem, Alan Measles.

The second episode, Animals, broadcast Monday 4 May 2020, featured artist Maggi Hambling painting a magnolia surrounded by the virus; comedian and guest judge Harry Hill carving a wooden dog; and Noel Fielding making a pastel crayon drawing of 'Acid Mouse and a sexy cooking apple'. Perry made a ceramic 'plague cat covered in decorative boils and pustules'. The third episode, Fantasy, broadcast Monday 11 May 2020, featured sculptor Antony Gormley making a dot painting with crude oil; a visit to the studio of artist Raqib Shaw; actor and guest judge Jessica Hynes making a decorated lampshade; and Noel Fielding making a cardboard fantasy cocktail party.

The fourth episode, View from your window, broadcast Monday 18 May 2020, featured artist Jeremy Deller making a 'Thank God For Immigrants' poster; comedian and guest judge Jim Moir painting UK birds; and comedian Lolly Adefope painting an abstract view. The fifth episode, Home, broadcast Monday 25 May 2020, featured artist David Shrigley drawing a comic drawing; comedian and guest judge Jenny Eclair drawing her living room sofa; Noel Fielding building a comedy club in his garden shed; and television presenter Kevin McCloud building a model dream home.

The sixth episode, Britain, broadcast Monday 1 June 2020, featured artists The Singh Twins making a digital artwork based on St George and the dragon; photographer Martin Parr photographing socially-distanced queues; and actor and presenter Liza Tarbuck making a cloth UK suspended in a mosaic-decorated box. These six episodes were followed on 4 December 2020 by a one-hour follow-up episode, Grayson's Art Club: The Exhibition.

Reception and accolades

Alex Marshall of the New York Times described the first series as producing a charming and occasionally bizarre portrait of Britain's preoccupations during the crisis. Hettie Judah wrote in inews that she had expected to be entertained but not so moved. The first series was nominated and shortlisted in Arts at the Grierson Awards 2020, nominated for Creativity in Crisis at the 2020 Edinburgh International Television Festival Awards, and received a Special Mention for TV Performing Arts at the Prix Italia 2020.