My Rampage is Over (2019) – David Shrigley Print

About the Work

My Rampage is Over (2019) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that juxtaposes a dense, black silhouette of a lumbering, elephant-like quadruped against a vibrant, pastel pink backdrop. Grounded by a solid yellow baseline, the composition is crowned with bold, multi-coloured block lettering spelling out the titular declaration. The stark contrast between the heavy black form of the beast and the cheerful palette creates an immediate, arresting visual tension.

This work brilliantly captures a profound sense of existential exhaustion, channeling a distinct undercurrent of modern anxiety through its comic absurdity. The lumbering animal looks heavy and depleted, suggesting that its rampage was not a triumph but an exhausting, anxiety-driven ordeal that has finally come to an inevitable end. By framing this defeat in bright, celebratory colours, the piece highlights the tragi-comic pressure to remain cheerful even when one has entirely run out of steam.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has secured an indelible position in contemporary British art through his mordant wit and deceptively simple aesthetic. His monumental Fourth Plinth commission, Really Good, alongside frequent appearances at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, cemented his reputation as an astute chronicler of daily life. Today, his work is held in prestigious public collections worldwide, including Tate and the British Council.

Although best known for his rapid, ink-on-paper drawings, the artist's translation of these immediate thoughts into graphic editions elevates his quick-fire musings into durable monuments of social critique. Each David Shrigley print acts as a democratic fragment of his wider philosophical project, rendering personal anxieties universally relatable. Through this meticulous translation, the raw energy of his sketchbooks is preserved whilst gaining a refined, graphic authority.

Print Process

Published in collaboration with the renowned Jealous Gallery, this edition demonstrates a flawless commitment to traditional printmaking standards. The production utilises a complex nine-colour screenprint process, layering dense pigment on heavy Somerset Tub Sized 410gsm paper to achieve absolute saturation. A subtle varnish overlay is meticulously applied to the black silhouette, giving the animal form a distinct tactile depth that contrasts with the matte background.

This sophisticated combination of techniques ensures that the frantic energy of the original drawing is perfectly immortalised without losing its tactile, hand-rendered quality. By partnering with a world-class studio like Jealous Gallery, the artist ensures that each David Shrigley limited edition print possesses a crispness of line and depth of colour that rival the original work. The resulting surface quality elevates a seemingly casual illustration into a beautifully crafted, physical object of desire.

Collectability

Works featuring text and animal motifs represent some of the most sought-after categories within the artist's secondary market, consistently drawing intense global collector interest. The immediate readability of the bold text combined with the enigmatic creature makes this composition instantly recognisable as a quintessential example of his style. Consequently, editions of this nature are highly prized for their ability to anchor contemporary art collections with both humour and visual gravity.

Representing an important text piece from his highly active 2019 printmaking period, My Rampage is Over remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's graphic practice. With an edition size limited to just 125, opportunities to acquire this specific work have become increasingly rare as pieces are absorbed into permanent private collections. Its enduring relevance and strong secondary-market presence make it a cornerstone acquisition for discerning collectors of contemporary British editions.

Artwork Specifications

• Artist: David Shrigley (British, b. 1968)
• Title: My Rampage is Over
• Medium: 9 colour screenprint with a varnish overlay on Somerset Tub Sized 410gsm paper
• Dimensions: 76 x 56 cm
• Edition: Edition of 125
• Year: 2019
• Publisher: Jealous Gallery
• Markings: Signed, dated and numbered on the back
• Provenance: Sold with COA from Jealous Gallery