Grayson Perry’s Key Workers (2021) is a poignant set of four ceramic sculptures created as a tribute to the essential workers who carried society through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Known for his ability to merge humor, satire, and social commentary, Perry here turns to ceramics—a medium deeply rooted in British craft traditions—to celebrate figures who are often overlooked despite their indispensable contributions.

The four hand-painted figures are clothed in striped tops, patterned jackets, and brightly colored trousers, evoking both individuality and collectivity. Two hold trays with meals, while others carry loaves of bread and essential goods, transforming them into symbols of service and sustenance. Their slightly naïve, folk-art aesthetic recalls Staffordshire figurines, a nod to English domestic traditions, but Perry reconfigures that lineage by focusing on the working-class heroes of the pandemic rather than aristocrats, monarchs, or religious icons.

The work is not only a gesture of gratitude but also a sharp piece of social observation. By elevating everyday workers into art objects, Perry draws attention to class hierarchies and questions why those who provide the most essential services—nurses, carers, delivery drivers, and supermarket staff—are often undervalued in times of normalcy. The figures, with their simple, almost childlike charm, become embodiments of resilience, community, and humanity at a time of global crisis.

Ceramics, with their fragility and permanence, serve as an apt metaphor: like clay, society is malleable, but without care it can fracture. Perry’s decision to memorialize Key Workers in ceramic form ensures that their role during a transformative historical moment will not be forgotten. At once humble and monumental, the set underscores Perry’s ongoing commitment to exploring social narratives through traditional craft, while infusing them with a contemporary urgency and wit.