David Shrigley, Do Not Underestimate My Thirst, 2023

Do Not Underestimate My Thirst (2023) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Do Not Underestimate My Thirst (2023) is a striking David Shrigley etching on 250gsm Somerset paper that presents a minimalist glass half-filled with vibrant blue ink. Set against a clean, off-white background, the composition uses stark black lines to render both the vessel and the commanding handwritten warning above it. This economical use of colour isolates the subject, focusing the viewer entirely on the dry wit of the presentation.

Through this stark imagery, the work taps into an unsettling sense of humour, transforming a simple physical need into a grand, almost menacing existential statement. The tension between the polite scale of the print and the aggressive demand of the text encapsulates the artist's ability to locate profound human anxiety within the most mundane situations.

David Shrigley

As a celebrated Turner Prize nominee and Royal Academy Academician, David Shrigley has secured a singular position within contemporary British art. His celebrated public commissions, including the monumental "Really Good" for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, have cemented his reputation as an astute observer of modern life. His works are held in premier public collections worldwide, from Tate in London to the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

While widely recognised for his vibrant screenprints, the artist's core practice remains rooted in the immediacy of drawing. Each David Shrigley print translates this rapid, spontaneous mark-making into a permanent medium, preserving the raw energy and deliberate imperfections of his original ink-on-paper works.

Screenprint Process

Utilising heavy 250gsm Somerset paper as a tactile foundation, the physical weight of the sheet elevates the graphic simplicity of the composition. While a standard screenprint relies on flat layers of ink, this intaglio method presses the rich black line deep into the paper fibres. This creates a subtle, debossed texture that contrasts beautifully with the smooth application of the primary blue tone.

This traditional printmaking method ensures that every subtle variation in ink density is carefully captured, echoing the fluid spontaneity of the original drawing. Produced in collaboration with the renowned Jealous Gallery, this David Shrigley limited edition print showcases how master printmakers can translate delicate hand-drawn lines into a highly structured, collectable format.

Collectability

Works featuring his signature combination of deadpan text and crude everyday objects enjoy exceptional collector interest globally. The immediate recognition of his graphic style makes these smaller, text-led editions highly sought after in the secondary market. Because his larger multi-colour works often command high premiums, these focused editions represent an elegant entry point for institutional and private collectors alike.

Representing an important text piece from his celebrated 2023 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's printmaking practice. With an exceptionally small edition size of just 20, Do Not Underestimate My Thirst represents a rare level of scarcity within his wider graphic output, ensuring continued appeal among discerning collectors.