David Shrigley, Dear Artist, We Will Not Give You Any More Money, 2014

Dear Artist, We Will Not Give You Any More Money (2014) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Dear Artist, We Will Not Give You Any More Money (2014) is an exceptionally rare David Shrigley etching that parodies the transactional and often brutal relationship between creators and institutions. Rendered in the artist's signature hand-drawn typography, the monochromatic text is bitten deep into heavy Somerset paper, presenting a stark black-on-white composition. The visual economy of the plate mark framing the blunt, capitalised declaration creates a chillingly sterile aesthetic.

Capturing a profound sense of institutional frustration, the work elevates the mundane misery of arts funding rejection into a piece of sharp social commentary. By presenting this bureaucratic denial as a formal art object, the composition exposes the intrinsic power dynamics and economic absurdities of the contemporary art market. The deliberate simplicity of the execution ensures the message remains uncomfortably direct and universally relatable.

David Shrigley

As a Turner Prize nominee and the creator of the celebrated Fourth Plinth commission Really Good in Trafalgar Square, David Shrigley has secured a singular position in British contemporary art. His work is held in prestigious international public collections, including the Tate and the British Museum. This institutional prominence has solidified his reputation as one of the most significant satirists of modern life.

Translating his spontaneous line drawings and deadpan humour into the graphic medium allows the artist to democratise his practice while maintaining the raw immediacy of his original sketches. Each David Shrigley print acts as a cultural mirror, capturing the neuroses of the 21st century with deceptive simplicity. This translation from private notebook to public edition lies at the very heart of his enduring appeal.

Screenprint Process

Utilising traditional printmaking techniques, the production of this edition differs significantly from a standard commercial poster, requiring a meticulous hands-on approach to transfer the artist's original ink lines. While the artist is globally celebrated for his vibrant screenprint editions, this rare etching uses a deeply bitten copper plate to press rich, velvety ink into heavyweight Somerset paper. This intaglio method ensures that the textured plate mark and the physical depth of the black lines remain tactilely present on the sheet.

This demanding manual process beautifully preserves the characteristic imperfections of his hand, capturing the authentic spontaneity of the original drawing. Published in association with Stephen Friedman Gallery, this David Shrigley limited edition print demonstrates a masterful control of medium that bridges the gap between classic printmaking traditions and contemporary conceptual art. Through this careful execution, the final work retains the vital energy of a direct, hand-drawn statement.

Collectability

Text-based works occupy an incredibly prestigious place within the artist's oeuvre, representing his most direct and critically acclaimed commentary. Works featuring these recognisable typographic declarations continue to attract significant collector interest on the secondary market. The universal resonance of the subject matter ensures it remains a focal point in any serious contemporary collection.

Representing an important text piece from his highly coveted 2014 publishing period, this work is exceptionally scarce due to its remarkably small edition size of just 20 examples. Unlike his larger screenprint runs, this intimate etching represents a rare, institutional-grade acquisition opportunity for discerning collectors. Consequently, the piece enjoys a highly established market and continued appeal among international collectors.