David Shrigley, Refrigerator, 2005

Refrigerator (2005) – David Shrigley Woodcut

About the Work

Refrigerator (2005) is an exceptional David Shrigley woodcut that translates the artist’s characteristic graphic simplicity into the bold, physical lines of relief printmaking. The composition features a starkly rendered, solitary domestic appliance executed in dense black ink against a warm cream paper background, eschewing bright colour in favour of graphic severity. By isolating this mundane household object, the composition elevates the ordinary into a subject of singular focus.

This depiction of a domestic appliance taps into a profound sense of absurdity, presenting the utilitarian machine as a solemn, almost existential monument. The slightly irregular, hand-carved outlines of the appliance doors and handle strip the object of its industrial perfection, rendering it delightfully awkward. Through this crude draftsmanship, the ordinary kitchen appliance becomes a tragicomic symbol of domestic life.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has secured a celebrated position in contemporary British art through his deadpan humour and satirical drawings. His celebrated public commissions, including the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square and prominent installations at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, have cemented his status globally. Today, his works are held in prestigious public institutions, including the Tate and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The transition from ephemeral drawings on paper to the permanent medium of fine art printmaking is central to his artistic practice. Each David Shrigley print preserves the immediate, unedited quality of his original ink drawings while utilising classic printmaking traditions to give the works a distinct material presence. This tension between the casual draftsmanship and the formal print medium defines his graphic output.

Screenprint Process

Beginning with the chosen relief-printing technique, this work showcases a tactile, debossed ink surface quite distinct from his screenprint editions. The heavy black ink is pressed directly into the grain of the premium Somerset paper, creating a rich, matte texture that contrasts beautifully with the negative space. Each impression in this small run carries subtle variations in ink density, reflecting the physical nature of the woodblock printing process.

By choosing relief block printing rather than a traditional screenprint, the artist captures a raw, chiseled line that enhances the work's primitive charm. This rare David Shrigley limited edition print was published in collaboration with Galleri Nicolai Wallner, ensuring the highest standards of artisanal production. The resulting impression retains all the spontaneous energy of the original sketch while establishing a commanding physical presence on the heavy archival paper.

Collectability

Highly sought after by international collectors, works depicting familiar domestic items remain some of his most celebrated and recognisable imagery. The deliberate simplicity of the subject matter ensures immediate visual impact, making it a highly desirable acquisition. This enduring collector interest highlights the artist’s ability to find universal resonance in the most unassuming corners of daily life.

Representing a highly significant example from his celebrated institutional period of the mid-2000s, the piece remains an exceptionally rare find due to its remarkably small run of just twenty impressions. This scarce early edition represents a pivotal moment in his career before his major global museum surveys, making it particularly enticing for discerning collectors. Consequently, the work commands strong secondary-market presence whenever an impression becomes available.