David Shrigley, This Will Not Be Here Tomorrow, 2009

This Will Not Be Here Tomorrow (2009) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

This Will Not Be Here Tomorrow (2009) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that confronts the viewer with a stark, hand-rendered declaration of transience. The composition employs a minimalist aesthetic, featuring bold black ink lettering set against a clean, off-white background that accentuates the raw immediacy of the graphic line. By stripping away extraneous colour, the work prioritises the conceptual weight of the written word.

The deliberate irregularity of the hand-drawn characters evokes an underlying sense of anxiety, transforming a simple textual statement into an urgent, existential reminder of impermanence. The slight imperfections in the line work suggest the frantic haste of a warning hastily scribbled, embodying the dominant theme of This Will Not Be Here Tomorrow. This tension between the permanence of the printed medium and the message of imminent disappearance creates a compelling, melancholic paradox.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has secured an enduring legacy within the contemporary art landscape. His highly celebrated public commissions, including the Fourth Plinth sculpture in Trafalgar Square and prominent installations at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, have cemented his status as a key chronicler of modern life. Today, his works are held in the permanent collections of major global institutions, including Tate and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The transition from quick, spontaneous drawing to the structured realm of fine art multiples allows the artist to democratise his distinct visual language. Through carefully curated editions, the immediacy of his ink sketches is translated into a highly tactile format that retains the raw energy of the original gesture. Acquiring a David Shrigley print offers collectors an intimate encounter with this celebrated graphic sensibility.

Screenprint Process

Utilising the tactile qualities of heavy Somerset paper, the print medium elevates the stark graphic contrast of the composition to museum-grade archival standards. The screenprint process applies a dense layer of rich black ink, capturing the precise texture of the original felt-tip pen strokes with remarkable fidelity. This meticulous application of ink gives the text a physical presence on the page, highlighting the sculptural quality of the hand-drawn letters.

Through this refined process, the spontaneous energy of the initial drawing is preserved within a controlled, premium medium. Published in collaboration with Glasgow Print Studio, this David Shrigley limited edition print demonstrates how traditional printmaking techniques can beautifully preserve the casual fluidity of contemporary drawing. The resulting edition balances the casual aesthetic of a sketch with the sophisticated finish of professional studio production.

Collectability

Works that showcase the artist's signature text-based wit experience particularly strong collector interest on the secondary market. The universally recognisable imagery and deadpan humour of these text pieces make them highly coveted acquisitions for both seasoned and emerging collectors. As a result, editions featuring such iconic aphorisms consistently command attention at international auctions.

Representing an important text piece from his highly active 2009 printmaking period, the work remains a particularly desirable example of the artist's early editions. With a relatively small edition size of just 100, the scarce availability of this release underpins its continued appeal among contemporary art enthusiasts. This combination of historic relevance and low print run ensures the work retains a robust secondary-market presence.