I Will Retrieve Your Phone (2021) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

I Will Retrieve Your Phone (2021) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that pairs the artist's signature deadpan humour with a vivid, twelve-colour palette. The composition features a whimsical green swamp creature emerging from dark water against a rich, saturated background, extending an unexpected promise of rescue to the viewer. This distinct juxtaposition of primal nature and modern digital panic is rendered in bold, flat blocks of colour.

By employing the archetype of an ancient aquatic beast to solve a distinctly contemporary technological anxiety, the work brilliantly captures the sheer absurdity of modern human dependence on digital devices. The hand-scrawled text acts as a comforting yet ridiculous reassurance, elevating the creature from a potential threat to an unlikely, helpful ally.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has established himself as one of the most celebrated contemporary British artists of his generation. His public commissions, including the monumental Really Good sculpture for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, alongside frequent inclusions in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, underscore his significant institutional standing. Shrigley's work is held in major public collections worldwide, including the Tate and the British Council.

At the core of his practice is a deceptively simple graphic style that translates seamlessly from raw, ink-on-paper sketches into highly refined editions. Each David Shrigley print preserves the immediate, raw energy of his original drawings whilst elevating the graphic line through sophisticated production methods.

Screenprint Process

Produced in a strictly limited run of 125, this screenprint utilises a complex twelve-colour separation process that brings extraordinary depth and saturation to the final image. Printed on heavy Somerset satin tub-sized 410gsm paper, the composition features a meticulous varnish overlay that gives the ink layers a tactile, lustrous quality. The weight of the paper and the density of the inks ensure a rich, physical presence that distinguishes it from standard digital reproductions.

The screenprinting technique masterfully captures the fluid spontaneity of the original brushstrokes and the deliberate irregularities of the artist's handwriting. Published by Jealous Gallery, this David Shrigley limited edition print demonstrates a flawless synergy between master printmakers and the artist's unique visual language.

Collectability

Works featuring text-based humour and eccentric creatures command significant collector interest on the secondary market due to their instant recognisability. The fusion of witty text with a charmingly crude character makes I Will Retrieve Your Phone a quintessential representation of the artist's highly sought-after aesthetic.

Representing a classic animal motif from his highly active 2021 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's graphic output. With demand driven by a finite edition size and continued collector interest, this work represents a compelling acquisition for those building a serious collection of contemporary British printmaking.

Artwork Specifications

• Artist: David Shrigley (British, b. 1968)
• Title: I Will Retrieve Your Phone
• Medium: 12 colour screenprint with a varnish overlay on Somerset satin tub sized 410gsm
• Dimensions: 75 x 56 cm
• Edition: Edition of 125
• Year: 2021