David Shrigley, Light, 2017

Light (2017) – David Shrigley Linocut

About the Work

Light (2017) is a striking David Shrigley linocut that delivers a stark, minimalist visual statement through its high-contrast composition. Rendered in a bold monochrome palette, the work depicts a single hand-carved Lightbulb emitting graphic, radiating beams across a clean white background. This stark contrast between deep black ink and negative space immediately commands attention, presenting a brilliant exercise in graphic economy.

By pairing the rudimentary drawing of a bulb in Light with the literal text labeling it, the artist engages with a sense of playful optimism that characterises much of his text-based practice. The radiating lines act as a naive yet powerful symbol of hope and clarity, cutting through conceptual noise with deliberate, child-like simplicity. Through this elementary iconography, the composition transforms a mundane household object into an emblem of sudden revelation and intellectual warmth.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has secured an enduring position in contemporary art through his celebrated public commissions and institutional exhibitions. His monumental Fourth Plinth installation in Trafalgar Square, alongside frequent inclusions in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, highLights his widespread cultural resonance. Today, his works are held in prestigious public institutions worldwide, including the Tate and the British Council.

The transition from spontaneous, rapid-fire notebook sketches to the highly deliberate medium of printmaking allows his deadpan humour to reach a grander, more formal scale. Every David Shrigley print retains the urgent, tactile energy of the original ink drawings while elevating the imagery through immaculate production standards. This deliberate tension between low-fidelity drawing and high-fidelity output defines his graphic oeuvre.

Screenprint Process

Collaborating with the esteemed Danish print studio Schäfer Grafisk Værksted, the artist utilises traditional hand-printing techniques to translate his signature line work onto heavy 300gsm Somerset paper. Though renowned for his vibrant screenprint editions, this particular linocut process requires the physical carving of a linoleum block, resulting in a rich, tactile ink deposit that screenprinting cannot replicate. The rich black ink behaves with a dense, matte intensity on the paper, creating an arresting contrast that emphasizes the raw physical impression of the block.

This hand-carving technique captures the sLight imperfections and organic wobbles of the artist's hand, preserving the human element at the core of each impression. Published by Schäfer Grafisk Værksted in a highly disciplined run, this David Shrigley limited edition print exemplifies how master printers can translate spontaneous mark-making into highly controlled multiples. The result is a work of exceptional graphic clarity that honours the directness of the original drawing.

Collectability

Acquiring works that feature his iconic, universally understood motifs remains a priority for both established and emerging collectors worldwide. Works containing text paired with direct symbolic imagery command consistent collector interest due to their instant legibility and distinct graphic appeal. This enduring demand reflects the artist's unique ability to bridge the gap between high art and popular culture.

Representing an important text piece from his celebrated 2017 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of the artist's graphic output. Released in a restricted run of only 100 copies, the small edition size ensures strong secondary-market presence and continued appeal. As his wider market continues to mature, early monochrome editions of this scale are increasingly difficult to source for private collections.