David Shrigley, Fat Pig We Love You, 2020

Fat Pig We Love You (2020) – David Shrigley Linocut

About the Work

Fat Pig We Love You (2020) is an arresting David Shrigley linocut print that strips away unnecessary detail to present a bold, minimalist subject. Rendering a stark black silhouette of a pig against a clean, off-white background, the composition uses heavy ink density to anchor the figure on the paper. The text "Fat Pig We Love You" is hand-carved directly into the block, framing the animal with the artist's characteristic deadpan layout.

This specific work brilliantly captures the register of absurdity by juxtaposing a blunt, physical description with an outpouring of collective affection. By carving the declaration directly into the relief block, the artist elevates a simple, raw depiction into a humorous monument to unconditional love. The deliberate crudeness of the carved lettering contrasts with the clean-cut outline of the pig, emphasizing the tension between mockery and genuine warmth.

David Shrigley

Celebrated for his biting commentary on the mundane details of daily life, David Shrigley is one of the most prominent British artists of his generation. Having received a Turner Prize nomination in 2013 and designed the acclaimed Fourth Plinth commission for Trafalgar Square in 2016, his institutional legacy is firmly established. His work is held in prestigious international collections, including Tate and the British Council, reinforcing his status as a key figure in contemporary art.

While best known for his rapid, ink-on-paper drawings, translation into printmaking allows these immediate thoughts to find permanent form. Acquiring a David Shrigley print offers collectors a tactile connection to this spontaneous drafting process, capturing every deliberate error and raw line. His graphic output translates the immediacy of his sketchbook pages into beautifully realised editions that remain highly sought after.

Screenprint Process

Published in collaboration with Galleri Nicolai Wallner, this particular edition reflects a meticulous approach to traditional relief printmaking. Executed on heavy Velin d'Arches paper, the rich black ink is pressed deep into the paper fibres, creating a tactile surface quality distinct from a standard screenprint. The saturated matte finish of the black pigment contrasts beautifully with the warm, textured surface of the heavy-gauge support sheet.

Working with the renowned Schaefer Grafisk Værksted print studio in Copenhagen, the artist preserves the energetic, hand-carved textures of the original linoleum block. This collaborative process ensures that each David Shrigley limited edition print retains the authentic imperfections of the carving tool. While many of his graphic works utilize screenprinting to achieve flat fields of colour, this relief technique provides a unique physical depth that enhances the graphic weight of the pig's silhouette.

Collectability

Works featuring bold text combined with charming animal subjects consistently generate the strongest collector interest within the secondary market. The artist's celebrated use of creature-based metaphors allows viewers to project human vulnerabilities and emotions onto simple graphic forms. This combination of dry wit and immediate visual impact makes such pieces highly recognisable and central to his broader graphic archive.

Representing a celebrated animal motif from his 2020 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's printmaking practice. With a strictly limited edition of just 30 copies, this release is exceptionally scarce compared to his larger print runs. This low edition size, coupled with continued collector appeal for his text-driven animal prints, makes it an enduringly sought-after acquisition for serious contemporary art collections.