David Shrigley, Just Fly Away, 2022

Just Fly Away (2022) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Just Fly Away (2022) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that pairs a starkly rendered bird with his signature handwritten text. Set against a saturated, intense yellow background, the black silhouette of the avian subject perches awkwardly on a single, minimalist branch. This bold use of negative space and high-contrast colour commands immediate attention, capturing the artist's celebrated deadpan aesthetic.

Characterised by a heavy dose of absurdity, the composition juxtaposes the poetic command of Just Fly Away with the stubborn, static posture of the bird itself. By rendering the creature as an oddly clumsy form incapable of the graceful escape suggested by the text, the work explores the tragi-comic gap between human expectation and physical reality. The crude line work and deliberate imperfections of the drawing underscore this existential irony, transforming a simple illustration into a poignant social observation.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has secured a formidable position within the global contemporary art landscape. His public commissions, including the celebrated Really Good sculpture for Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth, have cemented his status as a key commentator on modern life. Represented in major institutional collections worldwide, his works are regularly showcased at prestigious venues such as the Royal Academy of Arts.

The artist's practice translates the immediacy of daily notebook sketches into highly polished, graphic editions that retain their raw energy. Each David Shrigley print acts as a democratic medium, bringing his subversive humour and distinctive visual vocabulary into the sphere of fine art. Through this translation of quick-witted drawing to the meticulous printmaking medium, the artist invites viewers to find depth in the seemingly trivial.

Screenprint Process

Published in collaboration with the renowned London print studio Jealous Gallery, this edition represents a masterclass in modern screenprinting. The production utilises rich, hand-mixed inks applied in dense, flat layers to create a flawless surface texture on archival Somerset paper. A subtle varnish overlay secures the vivid pigments, ensuring the striking contrast between the deep black ink and the vibrant yellow background is beautifully preserved.

Through the meticulous silkscreen method, the print studio successfully captures the tactile quality of the artist's original ink strokes. This exacting replication allows the David Shrigley limited edition screenprint to retain the spontaneous, handmade feel of his original drawings whilst achieving a premium, tactile finish. The resulting work exemplifies the high production standards that collectors associate with the collaboration between the artist and his long-term publisher.

Collectability

Acquiring works from this release represents a compelling opportunity due to the sustained collector interest in the artist's graphic portfolio. The motif of the bird is among the most sought-after and recognisable subjects in the artist's iconographic lexicon, making these particular editions highly prized. Such classic combinations of text and animal imagery consistently drive demand within the global secondary market.

Representing a prime example of his highly coveted animal motif, this 2022 printed edition remains a particularly desirable example of his contemporary practice. With an edition size limited to just 125 copies, its scarcity contributes to a strong secondary-market presence and continued appeal among seasoned collectors. As the artist's international market continues to mature, acquisitions of these specific, text-driven works are increasingly prioritised by contemporary art collections.