David Shrigley, I Am Very Beautiful, 2025

I Am Very Beautiful (2025) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

I Am Very Beautiful (2025) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that confronts the viewer with a delightfully eccentric, multi-coloured figure rendered in a vibrant palette. This vivid composition features a complex layering of twenty-five individual colours, creating a rich contrast against the crisp white background of the heavy paper. The bold, hand-drawn text acts as both a visual anchor and a declarative challenge, showcasing the artist's signature deadpan lyricism.

By pairing a bizarre, almost grotesque abstract form with an unshakeable assertion of self-worth, the work brilliantly captures the spirit of pure absurdity. The physical distortion of the central figure serves to deconstruct contemporary anxieties surrounding self-image and validation. This playful tension between the visual reality of the form and its confident text makes the piece a highly engaging study in human vulnerability.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize in 2013, Shrigley has secured an enduring legacy within the global contemporary art landscape. His monumental Fourth Plinth commission in London's Trafalgar Square and regular inclusion in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition highlight his widespread institutional acclaim. Celebrated by major museum collections worldwide, his practice masterfully elevates the mundane into poignant cultural commentary.

Translating the raw immediacy of his spontaneous ink drawings into high-quality editions requires an exceptional level of graphic precision. Each David Shrigley print acts as a democratic extension of his conceptual practice, preserving the energetic, hand-rendered lines that define his iconic aesthetic. This seamless transition from notebook sketch to monumental graphic work remains central to his global appeal.

Screenprint Process

The screenprinting process for this edition is exceptionally complex, requiring twenty-five separate stencils to build its dense, luminous surface layer by layer. Printed on premium Somerset tub sized white 410gsm paper, the medium offers a remarkably tactile depth that elevates the flat ink layers into a rich, physical experience. Each application of pigment is meticulously registered to ensure the intense colours retain their crisp boundaries and vibrant saturation.

Executed in collaboration with the renowned Jealous Gallery in London, this David Shrigley limited edition print reflects the pinnacle of contemporary studio craft. The printmaking techniques employed successfully translate the deliberate imperfections of the artist's hand into a polished, permanent format. This close partnership between artist and master printer ensures that the spontaneous energy of the original drawing is perfectly preserved in the final edition.

Collectability

Works featuring bold text alongside iconic, peculiar figures consistently generate strong collector interest due to their instant recognition and cultural resonance. The balance of graphic simplicity and conceptual depth ensures these editions remain highly sought after by both established and emerging contemporary art collectors. This enduring market demand highlights the artist's unique position as a leading chronicler of modern satire.

Representing a major colour work from his highly anticipated 2025 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's graphic practice. With an edition size limited to just 125 impressions, works of this visual complexity and scale are increasingly difficult to secure on the secondary market. The combination of its ambitious colour palette and low production numbers supports its continued appeal among international collectors.