Here’s a quick update on Grayson Perry: Delusions of Grandeur.
- The exhibition ran at the Wallace Collection in London from March 28 to October 26, 2025, pairing Perry’s new works with items from the Wallace Collection to explore themes of heritage, gender, and mental health.[2][5]
- Reception was mixed in places, with some critics praising Perry’s craft and concept, while others felt the show’s theatrics and self-figuring narrativess sometimes overwhelmed its focus on the collection.[5][7]
- Coverage highlighted Perry’s use of Outsider-art references (Madge Gill and Aloïse Corbaz) and a narrative around a fictional character Shirley Smith that sits beside real works, prompting conversations about authorial voice and the boundaries between artist, collector, and muse.[3][7]
- If you’re seeking reviews or current exhibitions related to this work, the Wallace Collection site and major arts outlets (Guardian, ArtLyst, Islington Tribune, etc.) published contemporary analyses around opening and subsequent press cycles in 2025.[4][7][5]
Illustration: a common curatorial approach in this show was placing Perry’s postures and motifs adjacent to historic masterpieces, creating a dialogue between contemporary and 18th–century decorative arts within Hartford House settings.[7][2]
Would you like a concise snapshot of critical reception quotes or a timeline of the exhibition’s press coverage? I can compile a brief, sourced digest.
- Sources: Guardian review notes overall reception and interpretation; ArtLyst and Arbuthurian provide complementary perspectives; Wallace Collection page confirms dates and scope.[3][5][7]
Sources
Grayson Perry's latest show reinterprets the Wallace Collection. The Arb's art writer, Rosalind Ormiston, went along to the show's opening to investigate... For Londoners, the Wallace Collection, in Hartford House, is one of the nicest galleries to visit, and visit regularly. It has a charm and sense of place unlike any other, not to mention a phenomenal collection of fine art and decorative art. Where else can you walk through a room and find a masterpiece by Rembrandt, a painting of his son,...
www.arbuturian.comThe Wallace’s boldest show yet—Delusions of Grandeur blends Perry’s art, identity & satire, brought to life with an intimate audio tour by Imagineear.
www.imagineear.comArtworks 'by' Perry's new alter ego – an abuse survivor from the East End called Shirley Smith – sit among works by real outsider artists. His stronger pieces are more straightforward
www.theguardian.comDelusions of Grandeur at the Wallace Collection is an exhibition in which Grayson Perry reacts to the items in the museum. It got lukewarm reviews when it opened, perhaps because of a lack of coher…
seen-and-done.comConrad Landin talks to the artist about his new exhibition at the Wallace Collection
www.islingtontribune.co.ukPerry’s latest exhibition is really quite intriguing. He takes many of the tropes and themes of historic art and flips them entirely on their head, essentially questioning - as the show’s title suggests - how such grandiose notions are, perhaps, mere delusions..
www.coffeeandunlitcigarettes.co.ukGrayson Perry has always been a master of holding up a carnival mirror to society, and his latest exhibition at the Wallace Collection...
artlyst.comThe Turner Prize-winning artist's show at The Wallace Collection showcases his persistent 'anti-establishment stance'
theweek.comExplore Grayson Perry: Delusions of Grandeur at the Wallace Collection and Ryder's role as exhibition designers. Opens 28 March 2025.
www.ryderarchitecture.com