The Plant Loves Me (2023) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

The Plant Loves Me (2023) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that juxtaposes deadpan humour with a vibrant, multi-coloured botanical study. Rendered in a brilliant array of saturated greens, yellow, and earthy tones against a stark white backdrop, the composition depicts a potted houseplant with sprawling leaves. Above the foliage, the titular text is rendered in the artist's signature hand-drawn sans-serif font, creating a playful graphic tension.

By projecting human emotional needs onto a silent, vegetative form, the work explores the existential absurdity of modern companionship. The deliberate asymmetry of the hand-drawn leaves and the slightly off-kilter pot reinforce this sense of vulnerability, suggesting a desperate yet endearing quest for connection. Ultimately, the vibrant palette elevates the mundane domestic object into a monument of psychological projection.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has established himself as one of the most celebrated and culturally resonant British artists of his generation. His public commissions, notably the monumental Really Good thumb sculpture for London's Trafalgar Square Fourth Plinth, have cemented his status within contemporary art history. Works by the artist are held in prestigious international institutions, including the Tate in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Translating his spontaneous, immediate line drawings into highly finished graphic editions allows the artist to bridge the gap between casual observation and formal art-making. Each David Shrigley print acts as a satirical mirror, transforming everyday anxieties and philosophical quandaries into universally accessible visual statements. Through this democratised medium, he maintains an incredibly active and influential presence in the global art market.

Screenprint Process

Utilising exceptionally heavy Somerset tub sized 410gsm paper provides a robust and luxurious material foundation for this intricate graphic work. The production of The Plant Loves Me involves an ambitious 26 colour screenprint process, layering thick, opaque inks to achieve unparalleled depth and vibrancy. A meticulously applied varnish overlay coats the final composition, offering both protection and a sophisticated, tactile finish that catches the light.

This rigorous stencil-based technique perfectly captures the fluid energy of the artist's original ink lines and spontaneous brushstrokes. Published in collaboration with the renowned Jealous Gallery, the resulting David Shrigley limited edition print exemplifies the high-calibre craftsmanship associated with the studio's master printers. This demanding production method ensures that every individual ink layer remains crisp and visually arresting.

Collectability

Graphic works featuring text-based and botanical subjects consistently command substantial collector interest due to their instant visual recognisability. The fusion of witty text with bright figurative elements represents the pinnacle of the artist's aesthetic output, making such examples highly sought after on the secondary market. Consequently, acquisitions from this era of his practice represent a corner of sustained appeal for contemporary art patrons.

Representing a major colour work from his highly regarded 2023 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of the artist's graphic practice. With an edition size of just 125, the scarcity of this specific release further fuels its desirability among international collectors. As his global profile continues to rise, works of this scale and technical complexity retain a strong secondary-market presence.

Artwork Specifications

• Artist: David Shrigley (British, b. 1968)
• Title: The Plant Loves Me
• Medium: 26 colour screenprint with varnish overlay on Somerset tub sized 410gsm paper
• Dimensions: 76 x 56 cm
• Edition: Edition of 125
• Year: 2023
• Markings: Signed, numbered and dated