David Shrigley, Artist Eaten By A Wolf, 2011

Artist Eaten By A Wolf (2011) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Artist Eaten By A Wolf (2009) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that confronts the spectator with a darkly comedic narrative rendered in vivid, saturated hues. Against a dense, Canary yellow background, a highly stylised, multi-coloured wolf is depicted mid-meal, consuming a simplified human figure. This composition, executed with 22 distinct colours, subverts traditional wildlife illustration through its deliberate use of crude, graphic linework.

The physical contrast between the dominant, patchwork-coloured beast and the helpless, plain human outline encapsulates the sheer absurdity of creative vulnerability. By labeling the victim explicitly as the 'artist' in his signature scrawled handwriting, the artist reflects on the ultimate insignificance of creative endeavours when confronted by raw, primal forces. This interplay of existential dread and deadpan comedy elevates the piece from a simple caricature to a profound commentary on the art world itself.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has secured a celebrated position in contemporary British art through his biting social satire. From his monumental Fourth Plinth commission in Trafalgar Square to his recurring presence in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, his works are held in premier public institutions worldwide, including Tate and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His multidisciplinary output continues to challenge the boundaries between high art and popular culture with calculated insouciance.

Translating the immediacy of his ink drawings into more formal mediums requires a careful preservation of spontaneous error. Each David Shrigley print acts as a tactile record of these quick, unpolished thoughts, maintaining the raw energy of the original sketch while introducing sophisticated production values. This delicate balance ensures that his signature graphic style translates seamlessly from notebook pages to refined gallery walls.

Screenprint Process

Released as a highly sought-after edition of 350, this screenprint is a masterclass in modern screenprinting techniques that demand intense production precision. Utilising an exceptionally high count of 22 individual hand-separated colours, the composition is completed with a subtle gloss varnish overlay that defines the boundaries of the central figure. This rich ink application is supported by heavy Somerset tub sized 410gsm paper, which provides a rigid, archival foundation for the dense colour fields.

This demanding mechanical process ensures that every nuance of the original felt-tip stroke is perfectly registered in the final composition. Produced in collaboration with Stephen Friedman Gallery, this David Shrigley limited edition print demonstrates how professional printmaking can elevate seemingly casual drawings into highly structured art objects. The result is a piece that retains the tactile warmth of hand-pulled ink alongside the durability of museum-grade materials.

Collectability

Acquiring works from this pivotal era of the artist's career remains a priority for international collectors who value his most iconic, text-driven compositions. The motif of the predatory animal juxtaposed with self-deprecating text is one of the most recognisable and enduring elements of his visual lexicon. Consequently, works featuring these signature narratives experience sustained demand in the secondary market.

Representing a premier example of his celebrated animal motif, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's early printmaking practice. Due to the modest edition size and the historic significance of the 2009 release, examples of Artist Eaten By A Wolf are increasingly difficult to source. This scarcity continues to drive strong collector interest among both established patrons and those looking to acquire a seminal image from his mid-career output.