David Shrigley, 32 Tooths, 2022

32 Tooths (2022) – David Shrigley Linocut

About the Work

32 Tooths (2022) is a striking David Shrigley hand-printed linocut that presents a stark, anatomical graphic rendered with the artist's signature black ink on a heavy cream paper background. This particular composition depicts a gaping mouth containing exactly thirty-two blocky, white teeth, arranged in an almost-claustrophobic grid. The stark contrast between the heavy black field of the inner mouth and the pristine paper stock heightens the raw, immediate quality of the image.

Central to the dry humour of 32 Tooths is the deliberately erroneous title text, which bypasses conventional grammar in favour of linguistic playfulness. By literalising the adult human dentition while subverting the English language, the composition celebrates the joy of everyday error and administrative absurdity. This intentional imperfection invites viewers to reconsider the rigid structures of daily life through a lens of existential play.

David Shrigley

As a celebrated Turner Prize nominee and Royal Academician, David Shrigley has secured an enduring position within contemporary British art. His celebrated public projects, including the monumental Fourth Plinth commission in Trafalgar Square, have cemented his reputation as an astute chronicler of modern life. Today, his work is held in prestigious public institutions globally, including Tate and the British Council.

While widely recognised for his spontaneous, ink-on-paper drawings, his translation of these direct gestures into graphic editions has become a core component of his artistic output. Each David Shrigley print acts as a democratic extension of his conceptual practice, preserving the immediate, hand-drawn quality of his initial sketches. By translating these fleeting thoughts into permanent ink, the artist allows collectors to engage with his satirical universe in an intimate, tactile format.

Screenprint Process

The meticulous process of relief printing is masterfully executed in this edition, where the physical carving of the linoleum block dictates the final composition. Unlike a standard screenprint, the linocut technique yields a distinct, tactile surface texture where the hand-mixed black ink sits proudly upon the Somerset 300g paper. Each impression displays subtle variations in ink density, distinguishing it from his flatter screenprints and highlighting the artisanal nature of the studio's craft.

Working in collaboration with the renowned Schäfer Grafisk Værksted, the artist utilises traditional printmaking techniques to elevate his raw, graphic lines. This David Shrigley limited edition print exemplifies how carefully controlled hand-printing can immortalise the spontaneous imperfections of his initial drawing. The resulting graphic displays a rich, velvety depth of colour that is highly prized by connoisseurs of contemporary printmaking.

Collectability

As pieces featuring his most iconic motifs continue to attract significant collector interest, works displaying clear anatomical themes remain highly sought after on the secondary market. The immediate recognisability of his graphic style, coupled with his sharp observations on human nature, ensures these works maintain a strong secondary-market presence. Collectors value these editions for their ability to instantly command attention within any contemporary setting.

Representing a key example from his celebrated institutional period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's printmaking practice. With a strictly limited edition of only 100 impressions, this work offers an increasingly scarce opportunity to acquire a defining image from his mature portfolio. Its enduring appeal is bolstered by the artist's continued institutional prominence and global exhibition history.