David Shrigley, Pretty Thoughts Inside Your Head, 2018

Pretty Thoughts Inside Your Head (2018) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Pretty Thoughts Inside Your Head (2018) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that showcases the artist's deadpan humour and sharp social commentary. The composition presents a simplified white skull filled with a dense constellation of vibrant, multicoloured paint blobs, suspended against a deep black background and accompanied by the bold hand-rendered text below.

By depicting the inner mind as a chaotic, colourful explosion trapped inside a rigid skeletal container, Shrigley exposes the vulnerability of our inner lives. The contrast between the hard, stoic exterior of the skull and the messy beauty of the 'pretty thoughts' captures the core tension between our polished social masks and internal psychological chaos.

David Shrigley

Widely celebrated for his mordant wit, British contemporary artist David Shrigley uses raw line drawings and direct language to expose the absurdities of modern existence. Over his distinguished career, he has achieved major institutional milestones, including a Turner Prize nomination, the high-profile Fourth Plinth commission in Trafalgar Square, and multiple selections for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

His drawings and sculptures are held in major museum collections globally, confirming his status as an established figure in the contemporary art world. This David Shrigley print translates the spontaneous, handwritten urgency of his ink drawings into a highly refined graphic format.

Screenprint Process

The edition employs a sophisticated 38-colour screenprinting process to capture the vibrant depth and complex palette of the artist's original work. Utilising Somerset satin tub-sized 410gsm paper, the physical printing process ensures a flat, dense ink application that enriches the stark contrast between the bright paint blobs and the solid black background.

Produced in collaboration with Counter Editions and printed by the renowned K2 Screen in London, the edition demonstrates the technical precision of Shrigley's contemporary printmaking practice while preserving the spontaneity of the original drawing. The precise layer registration ensures that each vibrant circle in this David Shrigley limited edition print retains its sharp, saturated boundaries against the stark white skull outline.

Collectability

David Shrigley screenprints remain highly sought-after among international collectors, with interest supported by the artist's enduring popularity and strong institutional recognition. Pieces featuring Shrigley's most recognisable imagery are increasingly prioritised by collectors looking to acquire important examples of his printed work.

Limited to an edition of 125, Pretty Thoughts Inside Your Head benefits from a level of scarcity that has helped sustain long-term interest in the artist's printed editions. Representing a major colour work from his celebrated 2018 Counter Editions printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's printmaking practice, continuing to appeal to collectors drawn to his distinctive combination of humour and continued appeal.