Rare and valuable piece of work by artist Grayson Perry stolen from Bristol gallery

A rare and valuable piece of art created by Grayson Perry has been stolen from a gallery in Bristol.

The limited-edition piece, called ‘Alien Baby’, was stolen from the Hidden Gallery in Clifton Arcade, Boyces Avenue, between 1.15pm and 1.26pm on Tuesday, August 30.

When the piece of art was first on display at the Hidden Gallery in October 2021, the gallery owners called it ‘a simply fantastic rare investment work’.

Stamped and numbered, it was number two from the edition of 12.Grayson Perry created ‘Alien Baby’ during the filming of the BAFTA-nominated series Rites of Passage in 2018.

In the third episode, Perry explored ‘Birth’ and filmed the Neonatal Unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, speaking with mothers who had given birth to premature babies and to the nurses working with them.

Drawing on his experiences in the series, Perry created 12 ‘Alien Babies’ as a way to ritualise and celebrate the NHS, technology and the humanity of the neonatal nurses.

These works, each unique and executed in pottery with a metallic gilt glaze, were gifted by the artist to each nurse and to the couples featured in the show.

The sculpture stolen from the Bristol gallery was given to one of the couples on the show; their twins were born at 29 weeks and spent nearly three months in the Special Care Baby Unit.

Two men were seen in the area where the 27cm tall gold piece, made from glazed ceramic, was on display, just prior to its theft.

One of these men is described as white, in his thirties, of slim build, with dark facial hair. He was wearing a camouflage-pattern baseball cap, a dark zip-up jacket, with a blue V-neck shirt underneath, as well as dark joggers and white trainers.

Police say if anybody has seen this piece of art or have information on who was involved in this theft, to call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5222209796.