Grayson Perry sculpture worth £22,500 is stolen from art gallery
Grayson Perry sculpture worth £22,500 is stolen from art gallery in broad daylight as police launch hunt for two men
- The 27cm limited edition figure was stolen from a Bristol art gallery last Tuesday
- Named ‘Alien Baby’, it was one of twelve limited edition pieces on display
- Two men were seen in the area of the art display just before the theft took place
A manhunt is underway after a Grayson Perry art sculpture worth an estimated £22,500 was stolen from an art gallery.
The limited edition figure, called ‘Alien Baby’ is a 27cm glazed ceramic figure which was taken from the Hidden Gallery in Clifton, Bristol, last Tuesday
Two men had been seen in the area of the gallery where he 27cm tall gold piece – one of twelve in an incredible rare collection – was on display, according to police.
The 27cm glazed ceramic figure which was taken from the gallery is worth an estimated £22,500
Perry is a ceramicist known for his vases and tapestries who also has a very distinctive look bending the conventions of gendered clothing
The figure was taken from the Hidden Gallery in Clifton, Bristol (pictured), last Tuesday
One of these men is described as white, in his thirties and of slim build, with dark facial hair.
He was seen wearing a camouflage-print baseball cap, a dark zip-up jacket with a blue v-neck shirt underneath, as well as dark jogging bottoms and white trainers.
Since December last year, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery has hosted an exhibition of work by both Perry and his wife Philippa and also by members of the public as part of the Channel 4 series Grayson’s Art Club.
Perry is known for his television programmes examining the nature of people’s relationship with art and exploring the topics of Death, Marriage, Birth and Coming of Age.
Alien Baby appeared in his 2018 Bafta-nominated Channel 4 documentary series, Rites of Passage.
According to Sworders Auction house, the artwork was created to represent the ‘spirit of all the little lives bought into the earth by the nursing team’ from the Rites of Passage.
In episode three, Birth, Essex-based couple Abbie and Laura and their sons Caspar and Ezra who, after being born at 26 weeks, were cared for over 100 days by the neonatal care team at Chelmsford’s Broomfield hospital.
Inspired by the emotive scene, Grayson produced a range of 12 ‘Alien Babies’ in celebration of the NHS, as well as the technology and humanity of the neonatal nurses.
It is unknown how much the glazed ceramic piece of artwork is worth today, but in 2018 one of the ‘Alien Baby’s’ sold for auction at £22,500.
Perry is known for his television programmes examining the nature of people’s relationship with art and explores the topics of Death, Marriage, Birth and Coming of Age.
The works, each unique and executed in pottery with a metallic gilt glaze, were gifted by the artist to every member of the neonatal team at the Broomfield, as well as to the couples featured in the show.
He states ‘each sculpture represents the spirit of all the little lives bought into the earth by the nursing team.’
According to Avon and Somerset Police, the theft is believed to have taken place between 1.15pm and 1.26pm.
The force said: ‘If you’ve seen this piece of art or have information on who was involved in this theft, please call us on 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5222209796.’
Anyone with any information about the theft of Alien Baby is asked to contact Avon and Somerset Police on 101 quoting reference 5222209796.
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