David Shrigley, I'm The Moth You Are The Flame, 2022

I'm The Moth You Are The Flame (2022) – David Shrigley Linocut

About the Work

I'm The Moth You Are The Flame (2022) is a striking David Shrigley linocut that pairs a heavily inked black insect with a blazing, multi-coloured fire of yellow and orange tones. Rendered with the artist's signature faux-naive aesthetic, the composition utilises bold relief lines carved directly into the block to create a high-contrast visual tension against the cream Somerset paper. This graphic immediacy commands attention, balancing raw hand-carved textures with a vivid palette.

By literalising the classic idiom of fatal attraction, the work explores a profound sense of emotional vulnerability beneath its comic exterior. The deliberate blockiness of the moth and the chaotic energy of the flame reflect the inevitable, self-destructive patterns of human relationships. Shrigley masterfully transforms a tragic literary trope into a playful, existential commentary on the irresistible nature of desire.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has secured a singular position in contemporary British art through his wry observations of daily life. His celebrated public commissions, including the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square and prominent displays at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, have cemented his reputation worldwide. Today, his works are held in premier institutional collections, including Tate and the British Council.

The artist's celebrated practice translates the immediacy of his ink drawings into the democratic medium of printmaking. Each David Shrigley print acts as a satirical mirror, distilling complex psychological anxieties into deceptively simple compositions. This translation of spontaneous line work into graphic editions allows his dry humour to reach a global audience of collectors.

Screenprint Process

While many of the artist's most recognisable editions are executed using traditional screenprint techniques, this specific release employs a tactile linocut process on premium Somerset 300gsm paper. The relief printing method yields a rich, debossed ink texture that contrasts beautifully with the dense, hand-mixed pigments of the flame. This hand-carved approach offers a distinct physical depth, separating it from the flat ink layers of a standard screenprint.

This demanding manual process preserves the energetic spontaneity of the original drawing while introducing subtle variations unique to the relief medium. Published by Galleri Nicolai Wallner, this David Shrigley limited edition print highlights how master printmakers can translate raw graphic marker lines into a structured, highly physical edition. The resulting work possesses a visceral, crafted quality that enhances the conceptual weight of the text.

Collectability

Works featuring text and graphic animal motifs represent some of the most sought-after categories within the artist's secondary market. Continued collector interest is driven by the immediate recognisability of these graphic parables, which seamlessly bridge fine art and popular culture. As a result, editions that combine both text and figurative elements consistently command attention at international auctions.

Representing a highly desirable animal motif from his celebrated 2022 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly sought-after example of the artist's graphic practice. With an edition size of just 100, I'm The Moth You Are The Flame offers a compelling acquisition opportunity given its limited availability compared to his larger poster runs. This scarce edition represents an enduring testament to Shrigley's unique ability to capture human folly in a single, poignant image.