David Shrigley, I Woke You Up At Dawn I Make No Apology, 2024

I Woke You Up At Dawn I Make No Apology (2024) – David Shrigley Woodcut

About the Work

I Woke You Up At Dawn I Make No Apology (2024) is a striking David Shrigley woodcut print that presents a characteristically deadpan textual declaration set against a stark, high-contrast background. Executed with a bold black ink that emphasizes the raw, organic grain of the carved woodblock, the composition commands immediate attention through its graphic simplicity. The tactile quality of the relief printing contrasts beautifully with the clean, off-white surface of the heavy paper stock.

This piece brilliantly captures the emotional register of absurdity, transforming a highly specific moment of domestic friction and inconsiderate behaviour into a universal comedic statement. By pairing a deeply unreasonable sentiment with a formal, unapologetic delivery, the artist highlights the ridiculous nature of human communication and minor daily betrayals. The physical texture of the woodcut medium, with its slight imperfections, mirrors the raw, unpolished honesty of the statement itself.

David Shrigley

Renowned for his biting wit and deceptively simple aesthetic, the celebrated British artist received a Turner Prize nomination in 2013 and designed the acclaimed Fourth Plinth commission Really Good for Trafalgar Square. His celebrated output spans drawing, sculpture, and painting, earning him a highly respected place in the Royal Academy of Arts and major institutional collections worldwide.

Through his graphic editions, the artist successfully translates the immediate, spontaneous energy of his ink drawings into more permanent, collected forms. Each David Shrigley print acts as a satirical mirror, distilling complex existential anxieties into accessible, lighthearted visual koans.

Screenprint Process

Published in collaboration with the esteemed Copenhagen Press, this edition highlights the artist's continued expansion into diverse printmaking techniques beyond his traditional screenprint editions. While his screenprinting practice is celebrated for its flat, vibrant colour fields, this woodcut utilises a relief method that presses rich black ink deep into the fibres of heavy Somerset 300gsm paper. The resulting surface bears a distinct tactile relief, showcasing a physical depth that differs markedly from a standard screenprint.

The woodblock carving process beautifully preserves the deliberate, shaky contours of the artist's original handwriting, retaining the direct human touch of his studio practice. Produced in an exceptionally small print run, this David Shrigley limited edition print exemplifies how master printers work closely with the artist to capture the immediate spontaneity of his draftsmanship in a physical, tactile medium.

Collectability

Works featuring his iconic text-based musings consistently attract intense collector interest due to their instant recognisability and universal appeal. The stark black-and-white aesthetic of this piece makes it a highly versatile acquisition, seamlessly integrating into contemporary collections alongside his vibrant multi-colour screenprints.

Representing an important text piece from his highly active 2024 printmaking period, I Woke You Up At Dawn I Make No Apology is highly coveted due to its restricted edition size of only 30 copies. Given this extremely limited release, the work represents a particularly desirable example of his contemporary practice and remains a focal point of continued collector interest globally.