David Shrigley, The Moon, 2022

The Moon (2022) – David Shrigley Linocut

About the Work

The Moon (2018) is an arresting linocut on wove paper that showcases David Shrigley at his most minimalist and conceptually sharp. Centred on a solid, hand-carved yellow circle set against a dense, ink-black background, the composition mimics the flat, heavy ink application of a classic screenprint. This stark contrast emphasises the celestial body as a solitary, glowing beacon in an empty void.

By stripping the lunar landscape of all geographical detail, the artist channels a sense of cosmic absurdity. The deliberate simplicity of the circle reflects human attempts to find meaning and order in the vast, silent vacuum of space. Through this radical reduction, the work playfully critiques our psychological projection onto the natural world.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, Shrigley has secured an enduring position in contemporary art through his celebrated public projects, including his Fourth Plinth commission for Trafalgar Square. His work is held in prestigious international institutions, including the Tate in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The artist is also a frequent contributor to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, where his sardonic observations routinely captivate audiences.

This global acclaim highlights how effectively the artist translates spontaneous, immediate line work into highly finished editions. Each print by David Shrigley acts as a subversive mirror to modern life, elevating seemingly casual doodles to the realm of high art. The artist utilises printmaking to democratic ends, ensuring his distinctive visual language remains widely accessible yet highly coveted.

Screenprint Process

Released in a strictly controlled edition size of 125, The Moon represents a departure from the artist's more common screenprints, opting instead for the rich, textured relief of a linocut utilising a restricted colour palette. Despite this medium shift, the piece shares the bold, saturated ink coverage and flat graphic qualities typically found in a premium screenprint. Printed on heavy wove paper, the tactile quality of the ink layer provides a physical presence that standard digital printing cannot replicate.

This analogue method perfectly captures the slight imperfections of the hand-carved block, retaining the immediate vitality of the original design. This specific David Shrigley limited edition print was published by Stephen Friedman Gallery, a long-standing partner in the artist's printmaking journey. Working with esteemed publishers ensures that each edition matches the exact aesthetic standards of his museum-exhibited originals.

Collectability

The market for David Shrigley's graphic works continues to show exceptional strength, with a robust secondary-market presence globally. Collectors consistently prioritise pieces featuring his most iconic motifs, such as animals, celestial elements, and hand-written declarations. The clean graphic design of The Moon ensures its continued appeal among both seasoned collectors and those new to his practice.

Representing an important graphic work from his celebrated institutional period around 2018, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of his printmaking practice. Due to the modest edition size of just 125, examples of this particular work are increasingly difficult to source. Consequently, this print continues to attract significant collector interest whenever it appears on the secondary market.