David Shrigley, Rights For Goths, 2017

Rights For Goths (2017) – David Shrigley Linocut

About the Work

Rights For Goths (2017) is a commanding work that highlights David Shrigley's celebrated subversion of signs, executed here in a tactile relief format that contrasts with his flat screenprint editions. The composition features bold, hand-carved block capitals reading "Rights For Goths" set against a stark, textured off-white background. This minimal monochrome aesthetic heightens the graphic immediacy of the work, mimicking the urgent visual language of DIY protest placards.

By elevating a highly specific youth subculture to the status of a marginalised group demanding systemic advocacy, the artist exposes the comical earnestness of modern political discourse. The physical block-carving process lends an irregular, vibrating quality to each letter, reinforcing the sense of an amateur yet deeply committed activist movement. Through this deliberate tension, the work transforms a simple joke about subcultural angst into an intriguing exploration of human rights terminology.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has secured an enduring position in contemporary British art through his wry commentary on daily life. His monumental Fourth Plinth commission in Trafalgar Square, Really Good, alongside frequent inclusions in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, highlights his immense institutional prestige. Works by the artist are held in permanent collections globally, including the Tate in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

His practice relies on translating spontaneous, immediate line drawings and dry observations into more permanent artistic mediums. Acquiring a David Shrigley print allows collectors to experience this raw graphic spontaneity, preserved through the deliberate, archival nature of professional printmaking. This juxtaposition of casual sketching and formal print publication defines his highly celebrated graphic output.

Screenprint Process

Utilising Somerset 300gsm paper, this edition highlights a tactile depth that is fundamentally different from a standard screenprint. The heavy relief ink sits proudly on the surface of the heavy cotton paper, capturing the organic textures left by the hand-carved lino block. This physical depth creates a subtle play of light and shadow across the printed text, highlighting the handmade nature of the production.

Collaborating with the esteemed Jealous Gallery, the artist ensures that each print in the run maintains the raw vitality of his original drawing. This David Shrigley limited edition print reflects a mastery of relief-printing methods, where every nick of the carving knife is translated with absolute fidelity onto the heavy paper. The resulting impression retains a human, beautifully imperfect quality that remains central to his artistic philosophy.

Collectability

Considerable collector interest continues to surround works that showcase the artist's signature text-led style. These text pieces, which employ a recognisable graphic shorthand, are highly sought after for their immediate communication and universal appeal. By presenting sharp cultural critique through minimalist aesthetics, the edition appeals directly to seasoned contemporary art collectors.

Representing an important text piece from his celebrated 2017 printmaking period, the work remains an especially desirable example of his graphic oeuvre. With an edition size of just 100, the scarce nature of this release ensures strong secondary-market presence and continued appeal. The combination of classic Shrigley irony and a highly limited run makes this a cornerstone piece for any contemporary print collection.