Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences

Saturday 9 April – Sunday 5 June 2022

10am-4pm, Special Exhibitions Gallery

Free/ Booking Essential

Grayson Perry’s series of large colourful tapestries depicting the life of fictional Sunderland born character Tim Rakewell returns to the city for the tenth anniversary of the work.

Follow Tim’s story through the British class system from working-class roots through to computer software millionaire. Produced alongside the television series All in the Best Possible Taste the tapestries document a variety of British tastes and lifestyles.

Britishness is also the focus of Perry’s monumental tapestry ‘Comfort Blanket’, shown in the North East for the first time and described by the artist as ‘A portrait of Britain to wrap yourself up in, a giant banknote; things we love, and love to hate.’

Before booking, please read our Booking FAQs.

Interested in finding out more about Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences? Book for one of our tours!  Tours last thirty minutes and are £2 per person.

Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences is the sixth in Sunderland Culture’s series of Arts Council Collection National Partners Programme exhibitions and is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Grayson Perry, The Agony in the Car Park, 2012, Wool, cotton, acrylic, polyester and silk tapestry, Edition of 6 + 2 AP, 200 x 400cm. © the artist. Gift of the artist and Victoria Miro Gallery with the support of Channel 4 Television, the Art Fund and Sfumato Foundation with additional support from AlixPartners.