A series of ‘lost pots’ by one of Britain’s best known artists will be the star attraction when York Art Gallery officially re-opens on May 28.

The gallery’s opening show will be ‘Grayson Perry: The Pre Therapy Years’ - featuring some of the artist's earliest works.

The touring exhibition, developed by Bath's Holburne Museum, is the first to celebrate Perry’s earliest forays into the art world and will re-introduce the explosive works he made between 1982 and 1994.

Many of the 70 works included in the exhibition will be on display together for the first time since they were made.

Dr Helen Walsh, curator of ceramics, said: “We are delighted to be showcasing the ground-breaking early works of such a renowned and influential artist.

“It is fascinating to see how his craft has progressed and evolved since he began working as an artist. His early ceramic works show that the distinctive style, themes and characters have always been central in his decoration.

“To be able to bring these works - many of which are usually hidden away in private collections - together for public display is absolutely thrilling.”

The Art Gallery will be the second of York Museums Trust’s major venues to re-open, after what Trust chief executive Reyahn King describes as a ‘difficult year for.. culture and heritage’.

York Castle Museum will be the first venue to reopen, offering pre-booked tours only from Wednesday May 19. The Yorkshire Museum, meanwhile, is scheduled to re-open in late July - by which time it will have been closed for 16 months, thanks to the Covid pandemic.

It will open with a new exhibition dedicated to York’s favourite medieval king. ‘Richard III: Coming Home’ will highlight an iconic portrait of the king from the National Portrait Gallery, alongside star objects from the Yorkshire Museum’s own collections - including the Middleham Jewel, The Ryther Hoard and the Stillingfleet boar badge once worn worn by one of King Richard’s supporters.

Reopening the Yorkshire Museum has been made possible by the award of £423,226 from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, announced earlier this month.

The grant also means the Trust will be able to ‘remain financially viable following losses of more than £3 million of income since the start of the pandemic, Ms King said.