Shut Up (2018) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Shut Up (2018) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that confronts the viewer with a characteristically blunt, hand-drawn command. Rendered in thick black lettering against a split background of intense sunshine yellow and saturated primary red, the composition commands immediate attention through its graphic simplicity. The stark division of background colour amplifies the jarring nature of the text, presenting an everyday phrase with arresting visual force.

By rendering a highly confrontational phrase like Shut Up in his signature child-like handwriting, the artist captures a state of modern frustration and communication fatigue. This tension between the violent impatience of the demand and the playful aesthetic of the execution highlights the absurdity of human interaction. The heavy, unrefined ink strokes evoke an immediate, visceral reaction, transforming a simple expression of annoyance into a monumental statement on contemporary social exhaustion.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, the celebrated British artist has carved out a unique position in contemporary art through his darkly humorous commentary on everyday life. His monumental public commission Really Good occupied the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, cementing his status as one of the UK's most significant cultural figures. His works are held in premier public collections worldwide, including the Tate and the British Council, reflecting his widespread institutional acclaim.

While his practice spans sculpture, animation, and painting, graphic works remain the foundational core of his artistic identity. The process of translating a fast-paced, spontaneous ink drawing into a meticulously produced David Shrigley print allows his biting wit to scale up to an impactful physical presence. These graphic editions distill his observational humour into iconic, memorable visuals that resonate universally with collectors.

Screenprint Process

Utilising a highly controlled edition size of 125, this specific graphic release demonstrates the exceptional production standards of modern fine art printing. The work is executed as a 4 colour screenprint, utilising rich, lightfast inks layered precisely onto heavy Somerset tub sized 410gsm paper. This robust, tactile paper stock provides a luxurious substrate that absorbs the dense pigments, resulting in velvety surfaces and remarkably crisp edges.

Through careful collaboration with the master printers at Jealous Gallery, the screenprinting method faithfully replicates the fluid dynamics of the artist's original ink-on-paper gestures. Every subtle variation in line weight and ink saturation is preserved, ensuring the final David Shrigley limited edition print retains its raw, hand-drawn immediacy. This technical precision elevates the casual scribble into a highly refined, enduring object of fine art.

Collectability

Graphic works featuring bold typographic statements consistently command strong secondary-market presence and deep collector interest. This particular composition relies purely on the power of text, a coveted category within the artist's oeuvre that appeals directly to those seeking his most direct and unmediated commentary. As such, pieces that pair instantly recognisable aesthetic tropes with uncompromising humour remain highly sought after by international acquisitions.

Representing an important text piece from his highly active 2018 printmaking period, this release continues to enjoy sustained appeal among seasoned enthusiasts. With a relatively compact print run, the work stands as a desirable example of his satirical practice, making it increasingly difficult to source on the secondary market. The combination of early-career momentum and matured market structure ensures its enduring position in private collections.

Artwork Specifications

• Artist: David Shrigley (British, b. 1968)
• Title: Shut Up
• Medium: 4 colour screenprint on Somerset Tub Sized 410gsm paper. Printed by K2 Screen, London
• Dimensions: 76 x 56 cm
• Edition: Edition of 125
• Year: 2018
• Publisher: Counter Editions
• Markings: Signed and numbered on the front