Grayson Perry Live, Southbank Centre

Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry lectures on the meaning of art to mark the release of his new book, Playing to the Gallery: Helping contemporary art in its struggle to be understood.

Renowned for his amusing yet insightful public speaking, Perry's lecture promises to offer an intriguing perspective on the contemporary art world through the eyes of one of its most important figures. Known for his virtuoso talent as a potter and ceramic-artist, as well as his public cross-dressing, Perry is an entertaining speaker whose interest in frank sexuality is often explored in his creations.

After first becoming interested in pottery in the early 1980s after studying fine art at Portsmouth Polytechnic, Perry developed a highly original approach to that most traditional of art forms. His work contrasts the unassuming and utilitarian medium of classical pottery forms with disturbing images of violence and overt sexuality , creating a jarring clash of the commonplace with the taboo .

His artwork has drawn increasing critical acclaim, culminating with the Turner Prize in 2003- the first time it was won by a ceramic artist- and a CBE in 2013 for his services to contemporary art, which he collected in dressed in drag. In the same year he was also chosen to deliver the prestigious Reith Lectures on BBC Radio. 

Each ticket for the event will be accompanied by a free copy of Grayson Perry's new book,  Playing to the Gallery.