David Shrigley, I Love Fleas, 2014

I Love Fleas (2014) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

I Love Fleas (2016) is a compelling David Shrigley screenprint that confronts the viewer with the artist's signature subversion of the mundane. Rendered in stark, high-contrast monochrome, the composition pairs a crudely drawn, oversized insect with the declarative text from which the work takes its name. The rich black ink stands out sharply against the clean, light background, highlighting the intentional vulnerability of his line work.

By elevating a widely reviled household parasite to an object of explicit affection, the work exemplifies Shrigley’s mastery of the absurd. This paradoxical juxtaposition invites the viewer to reconsider the boundaries of sentimentality and the arbitrary nature of human empathy. The crude anatomy of the insect, paired with childlike handwriting, lends a disarming sincerity to an otherwise preposterous statement.

David Shrigley

Nominations for the Turner Prize and high-profile public commissions, such as his celebrated Fourth Plinth sculpture in Trafalgar Square, have cemented David Shrigley's status as a pivotal figure in contemporary British art. His dry wit and instantly recognisable style have also earned him election to the Royal Academy of Arts. Major museums worldwide, including Tate and MoMA, hold his works in their permanent collections, securing his enduring institutional legacy.

Translating the raw energy of his daily drawing practice into more permanent mediums, his graphic works maintain a deliberate sense of immediacy. Each David Shrigley print acts as a capsule of cultural commentary, using apparent simplicity to dissect complex human anxieties. This seamless transition from notebook sketch to fine art multiple is central to his global appeal.

Screenprint Process

Utilising premium heavy-weight Somerset paper, the printmaking process chosen for I Love Fleas prioritises tactile depth and ink saturation. The screenprint medium allows the dense black pigment to sit heavily on the fibrous surface, creating a velvet-like finish that digital reproduction cannot replicate. This deliberate choice of material elevates the seemingly casual doodle into a refined object of fine art.

Hand-pulled at the renowned Jealous Print Studio, the production captures the precise weight and wobble of the artist's original pen strokes. This meticulous translation ensures that each David Shrigley limited edition print retains the spontaneous, intimate character of his hand-drawn originals. The collaboration with master printers reinforces the technical integrity underlying the work's deceptive simplicity.

Collectability

The market for the artist's graphic editions has seen consistent growth, driven by sustained global demand and institutional recognition. Collectors particularly seek out pieces that feature his celebrated textual statements and idiosyncratic fauna, which represent his most iconic output. This strong secondary-market presence is further bolstered by the immediate visual impact of his aesthetic.

Representing a highly sought-after animal motif from his 2016 publishing period, this piece is particularly scarce due to its exceptionally small edition size of just 20 examples. Unlike his larger runs, this low-volume release is a highly coveted acquisition for discerning collectors of his graphic work. Consequently, it remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's printmaking practice.