About David Shrigley

David Shrigley (born 1968 in Macclesfield, England) is an internationally acclaimed British contemporary artist, best known for his witty, satirical, and deceptively simple style. His multidisciplinary practice spans drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, animation, and large-scale public art, unified by a deliberately crude graphic aesthetic that exposes the absurdities of everyday life. With his sharp sense of humor and deadpan delivery, Shrigley transforms the banal into the profound, making his artwork both immediately accessible and deeply thought-provoking.

While often associated with elements of Pop Art, Shrigley diverges from its consumerist focus by honing in on the strangeness, contradictions, and dark humor of the human condition. His signature drawings and paintings frequently integrate hand-written text, layering irony, satire, or bleak punchlines that challenge viewers to reconsider the logic -or illogic -of modern existence. This directness has made him a central figure in contemporary text-based art.

Beyond works on paper, Shrigley has developed an extensive body of fine art prints and limited editions, which have become highly sought after by collectors worldwide. These editions distill his distinctive wit and visual economy into accessible formats, reinforcing his role as one of the most recognizable and collected living British artists. His prints resonate with both seasoned art buyers and new collectors, bridging high art and popular culture with ease.

In addition to two-dimensional works, Shrigley produces playful yet incisive sculptures, installations, and public artworks. His large-scale projects - including his monumental bronze sculpture Really Good (2016) for Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth - extend his wry narratives into public space, inviting engagement from diverse audiences. His installations often pair humor with existential commentary, balancing entertainment with critique.

Across mediums, David Shrigley has carved out a unique voice in contemporary art, one that blends humor, absurdity, and sincerity. His artwork challenges cultural conventions, entertains with biting wit, and encourages reflection on the oddities of daily life - securing his place as a leading figure in the international art world.

Auction record: US$ 165k, Sothebys’s, New York, 2023

Notable exhibitions

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has exhibited internationally at major museums and institutions. His artwork has been the focus of significant solo shows, including at the Hayward Gallery, London (2012), the Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich (2014), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Santiago de Chile (2016), and K Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul (2021).

In addition to these exhibitions, Shrigley has presented work at leading venues worldwide, including the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh and Copenhagen Contemporary. His large-scale public commission Really Good (2016), installed on the Fourth Plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square, remains one of his most iconic projects, further cementing his position as one of Britain’s most distinctive contemporary artists.