David Shrigley, Be Yourself Just Be Yourself, 2023

Be Yourself Just Be Yourself (2023) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Be Yourself Just Be Yourself (2023) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that juxtaposes satirical modern advice with a vibrantly rendered, multi-coloured creature. Executed with saturated primary and secondary pigments, the composition features a patchwork of stripes that contrasts sharply against a minimalist, crisp background. This visual dichotomy immediately focuses the viewer's attention on the hand-drawn text framing the central figure.

Through the lens of Absurdity, the work interrogates the exhausting cultural pressure of self-actualisation by pairing an encouraging mantra with a deeply eccentric, unidentifiable beast. This physical depiction of the creature suggests that radical self-acceptance inevitably leads to something wonderfully bizarre rather than conventionally polished. By presenting identity as a chaotic collage of colours, the artist elevates a simple text phrase into a nuanced critique of contemporary self-help culture.

David Shrigley

As a Turner Prize nominee and celebrated Royal Academy member, the artist has carved out a unique position within British contemporary art. His public commissions, notably the Fourth Plinth sculpture Really Good in Trafalgar Square, have cemented his reputation as an astute observer of daily life. Major international institutions, including the Tate and the Museum of Modern Art, hold his works in their permanent collections, reflecting his enduring cultural relevance.

Transferring the immediacy of his spontaneous ink drawings to the graphic medium requires an exacting technical standard. Each David Shrigley print serves as an archival record of his trademark raw line work, preserving the tactile energy of his studio practice. By utilising high-quality screenprinting techniques, the artist ensures that his wry humour translates seamlessly from the sketchpad to the gallery wall.

Screenprint Process

Published in a highly controlled run of 125, the edition size ensures a meticulous level of production quality across every individual impression. This technical masterpiece utilises twelve distinct colour layers printed on heavy Somerset paper, creating an exceptionally rich and velvety surface texture. The application of a two-varnish overlay adds a subtle, gloss-like dimension to the central motif, catching the light and enhancing the depth of the pigments.

Collaborating closely with Jealous Gallery, the master printmakers have successfully captured the raw, hand-drawn essence of the original composition. This complex production method guarantees that each David Shrigley limited edition print retains the fluid ink-flow and graphic clarity characteristic of his best work. The partnership results in a finished piece where the ink lies thick on the paper, mirroring the visceral quality of a direct painting.

Collectability

Over the past decade, a highly active secondary market has developed for the artist's graphic works, driven by sustained global interest. Collectors routinely seek out editions that feature his signature combination of text and vibrant figurative motifs. The instantly recognisable aesthetic makes these prints highly sought-after centrepieces within both private and public contemporary art collections.

Representing a major colour work from his celebrated 2023 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's printmaking practice. Due to the modest edition size and the sophisticated 12-colour printing process, opportunities to acquire this work are increasingly limited. This sustained collector interest underscores the enduring appeal of his text-led, multi-layered screenprints.