David Shrigley, Untitled (Past Crushes...), 2022

Untitled (Past Crushes...) (2022) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Untitled (Past Crushes...) (2022) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that confronts the vulnerability of human connection with characteristic dry wit. Set against a clean, neutral background, the composition presents a series of colourful, idiosyncratic vessels, each rendered in bold pigments of pink, yellow, blue, and green. These vibrant, hand-drawn shapes serve as abstract monuments to former lovers, designated by Shrigley's instantly recognisable black handwritten text.

By categorising past romantic partners into static, brightly coloured containers, the artist addresses the lingering melancholy of faded intimacy. The physical separation between each vessel underscores the isolation of memory, transforming personal history into a curated, almost clinical collection of bygone affections. Through this playful taxonomy, the work balances the pain of lost connection with a comforting sense of shared human absurdity.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, David Shrigley has secured an enduring position within the upper echelons of contemporary British art. His celebrated public commissions, including the monumental Fourth Plinth sculpture in Trafalgar Square and his annual presence at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, have cemented his reputation worldwide. Major institutional acquisitions by museums such as Tate and the Museum of Modern Art in New York further validate his unique cultural significance.

Transitioning seamlessly from satirical sketchbooks to prestigious gallery walls, his practice thrives on the translation of immediate, raw observations into highly finished editions. Acquiring a David Shrigley print offers collectors an unmediated entry into the artist's subversive worldview. Each graphic edition retains the urgent, human quality of his original ink drawings while elevating the imagery through immaculate production standards.

Screenprint Process

Released in a highly controlled edition size of 125, Untitled (Past Crushes...) exemplifies the meticulous nature of modern fine art screenprinting. Utilising multiple distinct colour layers and a subtle matte varnish overlay, the print studio has achieved an exceptional depth of tone on heavy Somerset wove paper. This premium paper choice ensures that the rich, opaque inks sit perfectly on the surface, preserving the tactile quality of the original medium.

Executed in collaboration with the renowned Jealous Gallery, the production process perfectly mirrors the fluid weight of the artist's signature brushstrokes. This David Shrigley limited edition print captures the precise tension between the flat, saturated colour fields and the expressive black ink outlines. Collectors are thus presented with a work that preserves the immediate energy of the studio while meeting the exacting standards of archival printmaking.

Collectability

Highly sought-after by international collectors, works featuring the artist's signature text and playful taxonomy generate consistent secondary-market interest. The combination of visual immediacy and existential wit makes these graphic works incredibly resilient across contemporary art collections. Such recognisable imagery functions as an instant signifier of Shrigley's celebrated aesthetic, ensuring its long-term appeal.

Representing a major colour work from his celebrated 2022 Jealous Gallery printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's printmaking practice. Due to the modest edition size and the growing global audience for his work, opportunities to acquire this specific release are increasingly scarce. Consequently, the print remains highly prioritised by those looking to secure a definitive example of his text-based output.